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LUTHERAN 


HOME  MISSIONS 


A  CALL  TO  THE  HOME  CHURCH 


BY 
/ 

Rev.  J.  R.  E.  HUNT,  B.  D. 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  LUTHERAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  HANDBOOK' 
AND  "INTERESTING  INFORMATION  ABOUT 
THE  LUTHERAN  CHtTRCH"' 


ROCK  ISLAND.  ILL. 

AUGU8TANA   BOOK  CONCERN 

1913 


Copyright,  1913 

BY 

AuGUSTANA  Book  Concern 


TO    MY    WIFE 

WHO    MOST   EARNESTLY   AND   FAITHFULLY 

HAS    LABORED   WITH    ME   AMID    MANY    HARDSHIPS    AND 

DISCOURAGEMENTS  ON   THE  HOME  MISSION   FIELD 

THIS  BOOK  IS  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED  BY 

THE   AUTHOR 


PREFACE 

Some  years  ago  I  determined  to  maJce  a  study  of  Lu- 
theran Home  Missions.  I  set  about  to  secure  literature 
on  the  subject,  and  to  my  great  surprise  I  was  unable 
to  find  a  single  booh  ivith  anything  like  an  exhaustive 
treatment  of  the  subject.  In  my  dilemma  I  turned  to 
the  religious  papers  and  magazines  of  our  Church.  Here 
and  there  I  found  an  article.  I  searched  the  files  of 
twenty  years  hack  and  secured  practically  everijthing 
that  had  been  printed  on  Home  Missions  from  a  Luther- 
an standpoint.  After  classifying  my  material  I  began 
studying  the  problems. 

I  was  struck  ivith  the  absence  of  any  theory  of  Home 
Missions.  For  years  tve  have  been  endeavoring  to  carry 
on  Home  Mission  tvork,  and  no  one  seemed  to  know  what 
plan  the  Church  was  folloiving.  Every  worker  appeared 
to  be  a  law  unto  himself.  It  occurred  to  me  that  there 
ought  to  be  a  theory  of  Home  Missions  as  well  as  of  any 
other  activity  of  the  Church.  With  this  idea  in  mind 
I  began  studying  the  past  experience  of  the  Church. 
This  book  is  the  result. 

I  have  endeavored  to  gather  up  the  experience  of  the 
Church  and  from  it  to  evolve  a  true  theory  of  Home 
Missions.  With  this  in  mind  I  have  first  given  a  general 
survey.  This  I  follow  with  a  careful  investigation  of  the 
field.     Then  comes  a  study  of  the  people  and  the  re- 


6  LUTHERAN    HOME    MISSIONS 

lation  of  the  Church  to  Home  Missions.  I  then  hastily 
sketch  the  methods  the  Church  has  used  in  the  past,  with 
an  analysis  of  the  working  forces  and  the  practical  work 
of  heginning  and  building  up  a  mission  congregation. 

The  reader  will  notice  that  I  have  quoted  frequenlly 
throughout  the  whole  hook.  I  have  done  this  for  a 
purpose.  I  am  anxious  to  bring  before  the  Church,  not 
my  own  opinions  about  Home  Missions,  hut  the  actual 
experience  of  the  Church  itself  in  carrying  on  this  great 
work.  I  have  tried  to  give  credit  as  far  as  I  could. 
There  may  he  instances  where  credit  is  not  given. 

In  treating  the  Home  Mission  problems  I  recognize 
that  I  am  on  virgin  soil.  There  were  no  writings  to 
guide  me,  so  I  had  to  develop  my  own  plan  at  every  step. 
In  doing  a  pioneer  work  of  this  character  no  doubt  many 
iveaknesses  and  mistakes  will  become  apparent.  I  ask 
tliat  they  he  overlooked  and  that  the  work  be  judged  on 
its  merits. 

I  have  spent  my  entire  ministerial  life  on  the  Home 
Mission  field,  and  no  subject  lies  closer  to  my  heart.  I 
send  forth  this  book  with  the  hope  and  prayer  that  it 
may  be  used  by  the  Master  in  helping  forivard  the  great 
ivork  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  this  land.  If  this 
hook  will  in  a  small  way  haste?i  the  day  of  greater  and 
more  efficient  Home  Mission  activity  I  shall  he  grateful 
to  my  heavenly  Father. 

October  1913.  3.  E.  E.  Hunt. 


CONTENTS 

Chapter  I.     A  General  Survey 9 

Definition  of  Home  Missions.  —  Homo  Missions  in  the  process  of 
becoming  a  science.  —  Tlie  Doctrine  had  to  be  settled.  —  The  Liturjo' 
had  to  be  formed. —  Church  practice  had  to  be  settled. —  Inner  Missions 
brought  to  a  science.  —  A  broad  ^dsion.  —  The  way  made  ready. 

Chapter  II.     The  Basis  and  Object  of  Home  Missions..   25 

In  the  Old  Testament.  —  In  the  New  Testament.  —  The  example  of 
the  Apostles.  —  The  love  of  Christ  in  the  hearts  of  believers.  —  Tlie 
object  of  Home  Missions.  —  To  save  souls.  —  To  build  up  the  Church.  — 
To  nationalize  the  Church  in  this  country.  —  To  save  the  country.  — ■  To 
strengthen    Foreign   Missions.  —  To   promote   Inner    Missions. 

Chapter  III.     The  Importance  of  Home  Missions 46 

Honie  Missions  serve  to  maintain  the  numerical  strength  of  the 
Church.  —  Home  Missions  render  the  past  labors  of  the  Church  avail- 
able. —  Serve  to  extend  the  Church  into  new  and  fresh  fields.  — 
Maintain  and  increase  the  means  of  the  Church.  —  The  most  economical 
branch  of  service.  —  Arc  of  the  greatest  importance  when  the  Church 
is  scattered.  —  The  peculiar  situation  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  this 
country.  —  The  great  opportunity  for  Home  Mission  work  by  the  Lu- 
tlieran  Church.  —  The  great  responsibility  which  rests  upon  the  Cliurch. 
—  The    weakening    of    the    revival    system. 

Chapter  IV.     The  Field  of  Home  Missions 71 

The  country  as  a  whole.  —  The  East.  —  New  England.  —  The  east 
north  central  division. — The  West.  —  The  west  north  central  division. 
• —  The    mountain    division.  —  The    Pacific    slope.  —  The    South. 

Chapter  V.     The  People  for  Lutheran  Home  Missions. 
The  American  and  the  German 96 

A  partially  ijrepareil  people.  —  The  American.  —  Conscientiousness.  — 
Courage.  —  Energy.  —  Consideration.  —  Idedls.  —  Colonization.  — 
Intellectual  life.  —  Inventive  genius.  —  Money-making  power.  —  States- 
manship. —  Physical  characteristics.  —  Religious  life.  —  The  Germans. — 
(ierman  immigration.  —  First  wave.  —  Second  wave.  —  Third  wave.  — 
The  present  situation.  ■ — •  German  characteristics.  —  Honesty.  — -  Per- 
sistency. —  Love  of  labor.  • —  Sense  of  duty.  —  Simple  life.  —  The  joy 
of   living.  —  Care   of   body.  - —  Individualism.  —  Idealism. 

Chapter  VI.     The  People  for  Lutheran  Home  Missions, 
Continued    116 

The  Scandinavians.  —  Characteristics  of  the  Scandinavians.  —  Strong 
individuality.  —  Courage.  —  Firmness  and  determination.  —  Assimilate 
easily.  —  Patriotism.  —  Take  to  the  soil.  —  Not  exploiters.  —  Lawabid- 
ing.  • —  Religious    characteristics.  —  The    Slovaks. 

Chapter   VII.     The   Relation   of   the   Church   to   Home 
Missions    131 

The  Church  has  the  only  instruments  through  which  Home  Missions 
can  be  promoted.  —  The  Church  is  under  obligations  to  spread  these 
means.  —  The  Church  has  the  necessary  requirements  within  itself.  — 
The  relation  of  the  local  congregation  to  Home  Missions.  —  It  should 
have  a  pastor  interested  in  Home  Missions.  —  It  should  be  informed  on 


8  LUTHERAN    HOME    MISSIONS 

the  subject.  —  It  should  have  an  interest  in  a  particular  mission.  — 
It  shoulfl  send  its  pastor  to  visit  the  Home  Mission  field.  —  It  should 
have  a  missionary  society.  —  The  Sunday-school  and  Home  Missions.  — 
•  The  thcoloprical  seminary  and  Home  Missions.  —  Tlie  religious  press 
and   Home  Missions. 

Chapter  VIII.    Home  Mission  Forces 147 

The  Home  Mission  Board.  —  Its  organization.  — Its  outlook  and  grasp 
of  the  situation.  —  Its  mission  policy.  —  Its  method  of  finance.  —  Its 
support  from  the  Church.  —  Its  attitude  towards  individual  missions.  — 
The  General  Superintendent.  —  He  must  have  a  deep  love  for  his 
Church.  —  He  must  have  a  broad  vision.  — ■  He  must  be  capable  of 
inspiring  enthusiasm.  —  He  must  be  conversant  with  the  needs  of  the 
work.  —  He  must  be  capable  of  directing  the  missionaries.  —  He  must 
not  be  easily  discouraged. 

Chapter  IX.    Home  Mission  Forces,  Continued 163 

The  Missionary  pastor.  —  He  must  be  a  man  of  earnest  piety.  — 
He  must  have  practical  common  sense.  —  He  must  have  zeal  for  the 
work.  —  He  must  possess  the  spirit  of  self-denial.  —  He  must  be  un- 
compromising in  the  faith.  —  He  must  possess  the  prace  of  patience.  — 
He  must  be  adapted  to  the  work  and  the  field.  —  The  Church  Extension 
Society. —  Its  object.  —  Its   method   of   operation. 

Chapter  X.  Methods  of  Carrying  on  Home  Mission  Work  180 

The  itinerate  system.  —  Tlie  parochial  system.  —  The  synodical  sys- 
tem. —  The  General  Council.  —  Swedish  Home  Missions.  —  The  General 
Synod.  —  The    Missouri    Synod.  —  The    Joint    Synod    of    Ohio. 

Chapter  XI.    Beginning  a  Mission  Congregation 199 

A  general  survey  of  the  community.  —  Tlie  permanency  of  the  people. 
— ■  The  social  life  of  the  community.  —  The  financial  standing  of  the 
people.  —  The  occupation  of  the  people.  —  Religious  conditions  of  the 
community.  —  Churches  in  the  community.  —  The  religious  condition 
of  the  people.  —  Types  of  Lutherans  in  the  community.  —  The  advis- 
ability of  starting  a  mission.  —  The  nee<l  of  a  Lutheran  Church.  — 
The  attitude  of  the  community  towards  the  proposed  Church.  —  The 
attitude  of  the  other  Churches  towards  the  proposed  Church.  —  Starting 
the  mission.  —  Securing  a  place  of  meeting.  —  Working  up  an  interest 
in  the  community.  —  Choosing  material  with  which  to  begin. — The 
first  service. 

Chapter  XII.    Securing  Members  222 

■Winning  men.  —  Motive  for  reaching  men.  — •  The  boy.  —  Young  men 
getting  a  start  in  life.  —  The  young  family.  —  The  indifferent.  —  The 
doubter.  —  The  pivotal  man.  —  Methods  for  winning  men.  —  Method  of 
approach.  —  Time    of    approach.  —  Correspondence. 

Chapter  XIII.    Securing  Lot  and  Building 240 

A  mission  should  not  stay  in  temporary  quarters  long.  —  The  purchase 
of  a  lot  tends  to  give  permanency.  —  The  purchase  of  a  lot  arouses 
hope  in  the  people.  —  The  purchase  of  a  lot  gives  the  mission  some 
definite  work.  —  The   location   of  the   lot.  — ■  The  building. 

Chapter  XIV.     Building  Up  the  Work   253 

Financing  the  mission.  —  Meeting  the  discouragements.  —  Keeping  up 
the  interest. — 'The  weeding  out  process.  —  Handling  the  factions. — 
Developing  the  Sunday-school.  —  Developing  a  Church  consciousness.  — 
Establishing  a  standing  in  the  community.  —  Creating  a  vifide  outlook. 
—  Bringing  the  mission  to  self-sustentation. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A  General  Survey. 

America  presents  to  the  world  to-day  the  great- 
est problem  of  the  ages.  Statesmen  and  philos- 
ophers, historians  and  clergymen  all  agree  that 
this  country  holds  the  key  to  future  civilization. 
The  human  race  is  on  trial  in  this  land.  Self-gov- 
ernment and  religion  are  the  two  problems  before 
this  country.  While  the  State  and  the  Church  are 
separate,  yet  the  two  stand  or  fall  together.  Self- 
government  without  religion  will  fail  and  reli- 
gion without  good  government  cannot  continue. 

God  has  favored  our  land  above  other  lands.  To 
it  He  has  given  unbounded  territory  and  unlim- 
ited resources.  He  has  chosen  this  country  as 
the  place  where  mankind  shall  develop  the  high- 
est civilization  and  where  the  Church  shall  do 
its  noblest  work.  Into  this  favored  land  He  has 
been  pouring  millions  of  people  from  Europe  and 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  2 


10  LUTHERAN    IIOMK    MISSIONS 

Asia,  and  out  of  this  chaos  is  to  rise  the  most  won- 
derful nation  and  the  most  glorious  Church  of  all 
times.  God's  latest  creation  is  always  best,  and 
the  nation  and  Church  which  are  now  in  process 
of  forming  here  in  America  shall  be,  in  the  fu- 
ture, His  greatest  handiwork.  The  advantages  of 
intelligence  and  genius,  the  avenues  of  wealth  and 
liberty,  the  privileges  of  freedom,  personal  rights 
and  ownership  are  destined  to  develop  a  noble 
type  of  manhood.  The  unbounded  religious  priv- 
ileges, and  the  great  opportunity  for  individual 
and  social  activities  will  produce  the  highest  type 
of  Christian  character.  That  Church  which  to- 
day has  the  vision,  grasps  the  situation,  and  uses 
the  God-given  opportunity  will  be  the  Church  of 
this  land  to-morrow.  But  that  Church  which  hes- 
itates will  be  lost.  We  are  standing  on  the  thresh- 
old of  a  great  future.  God  is  parting  the  veil 
of  obscurity  and  we  are  beginning  to  peer  into 
a  new  era.  In  this  new  era  the  Lutheran  Church 
is  destined  to  play  a  great  part,  if  not  the  chief 
role.  Nearly  three  centuries  have  elapsed  since 
our  Church  was  first  planted  on  these  shores,  but 
it  is  just  beginning  to  come  to  its  own. 

This  is  a  missionary  age.  Never  in  the  history 
of  the  world  has  there  been  so  much  missionary 
activity.  The  Church  has  been  sending  out  its 
hundreds  of  workers  into  the  foreign  field  and  it 
has  been  gathering  its  thousands  of  souls  into  the 
home  fold.  The  heathen  world  presents  the  great- 
est opportunities  for  mission  work  and  the  home- 


A  GENERAL   .SURVEY  11 

land  is  ripe  unto  the  harvest.  The  supreme  mo- 
ment has  come.  The  crisis  of  missions  has  ar- 
rived. That  Church  which  shall  rightly  cultivate 
and  properly  develop  the  home  field  to-day  shall 
be  the  Church  which  will  do  the  largest  Foreign 
missionary  work  to-morrow.  The  future  of  the 
Church  of  America  lies  in  its  Home  Missionary 
opportunities.  That  Church  which  puts  forth 
the  most  strenuous  efforts  on  the  home  field  will 
be  the  Church  with  greatest  strength  to  carry  on 
work  in  the  foreign  field.  Our  Home  Mission  op- 
portunity is  without  parallel.  Like  Saul  it  stands 
head  and  shoulders  above  all  other  opportunities. 
Let  the  Church  solve  the  Home  Mission  problem 
and  all  its  other  problems  will  adjust  themselves. 

In  the  midst  of  this  Home  Mission  work  our 
Lutheran  Church  now  finds  itself,  and  our  leaders 
are  wrestling  with  its  problems.  Already  the 
signs  indicate  that  the  final  victory  of  the  Prot- 
estant Church  in  America  shall  belong  to  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

The  one  great  work  before  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  this  country  has  been  that  of  Home  Missions, 
and  strange  as  it  may  seem  no  one  has  searched 
out  its  underlying  principles  and  classified  them. 
It  is  evident  that  there  must  be  a  right  way  of 
carrying  on  the  work,  and  a  second  thought  will 
make  it  just  apparent  that  there  may  be  many 
ways  which  are  impracticable  and  unprofitable. 
It  shall  be  our  endeavor  to  discover,  classify,  and 
explain  the  principles  of  Home  Mission  work. 


12  LUTHERAN    HOME    MISSIONS 

Definitions  of  Home  Missions. 

Our  first  task  is  to  define  Home  Missions.  Is 
it  related  to  other  branches  of  theological  science, 
or  does  it  stand  alone?  It  is  plainly  evident  that 
there  are  different  ideas  about  Home  Missions. 
The  Lutheran  conception  of  Home  Missions  is 
different  from  that  of  the  other  denominations. 
Our  Home  Mission  work  is  wider  in  scope  and 
more  vital  to  the  life  of  the  Church  than  theirs. 
Their  Home  Mission  work  is  more  nearly  com- 
pleted than  ours.  To  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
this  country,  Home  Missions  is  the  supreme  task. 
What,  then,  are  we  to  understand  by  Lutheran 
Home  Missions?  We  go  to  the  Lutheran  Cyclopae- 
dia for  our  first  answer.  It  says:  "This  term 
denotes  a  sphere  of  church  activity  exclusively 
American.  The  modern  migration  of  nations  has 
brought  and  is  bringing  to  these  shores  people 
from  every  portion  of  the  world.  The  citizens  of 
the  Lutheran  states  of  Europe  settling  here  usual- 
ly leave  their  pastors  at  home.  The  same  is  true 
of  those  moving  from  our  Eastern  states  to  the 
great  West  and  Northwest.  In  order  to  gather 
this  stream  of  Lutherans  and  to  hold  it  for  our 
Church,  pastors  called  'Home  Missionaries'  are 
sent  forth,  supported  by  various  synods,  by  the 
general  bodies  to  which  they  belong,  or,  in  some 
cases,  by  individual  congregations."  Dr.  R.  F. 
Weidner,  defining  Home  Missions  in  his  Theologi- 
cal Encyclopaedia,  says :  "The  work  of  Home  Mis- 


A.  GENERAL   SURVEY  13 

sions  *ia  work  that  is  carried  on  in  our  own  land, 
and  consists  in  gathering  into  self-supporting 
congregations  the  scattered  brethren  in  the  faith, 
together  with  unchurched  masses  of  our  mixed 
population.'  There  are  thousands  of  professed 
Christians  scattered  over  each  state,  temporarily 
severed  from  Christian  congregations,  and  an 
equally  large  number  indifferent  to  religion,  both 
native  and  foreign  born,  who  are  in  sore  need  of 
the  ministry  of  the  Church.  The  great  aim  is  to 
provide  the  Gospel  to  all  classes  and  conditions  of 
men,  and  everywhere  to  organize  self-supporting 
congregations."  Another  definition  given  by  Rev. 
Morris  Officer  expresses  this  idea:  "It  is  a  func- 
tional division,  marking  out  a  somewhat  distinct 
office  in  the  system  of  evangelical  operations,  and 
that  office  distinctively  is  to  finish  out  an  incom- 
plete work.  It  enters  upon  what  was  begun  by 
foreign  missions,  and  carries  it  forward  to  its 
consummation  in  the  establishment  of  the  pasto- 
rate." Bliss,  in  the  Encyclopaedia  of  Missions, 
says:  "In  general,  however.  Home  Missions  may 
be  considered  as  that  department  of  the  work  of 
the  Church  in  which  the  outlying  sections  of  its 
own  country  are  provided  for.  It  includes  the 
providing  of  ministers  and  churches  for  places 
destitute  of  either  or  both,  the  assistance  of 
churches  that  for  one  reason  or  another  are  not 
strong  enough  to  stand  alone,  the  furnishing  of 
facilities  for  Christian  education  in  new  com- 
munities and  the  meeting  with  Christian  influence 


14  LUTHKKA.N    HOME    MISSION'S 

the  great  mass  of  immigration  that  so  often 
threatens  to  overrun  and  break  down  Christian 
institutions."  From  these  definitions  we  learn 
that  the  term  "Home  Missions"  denotes  a  dis- 
tinctively American  church  activity,  that  this  ac- 
tivity has  to  do  with  people  who  have  had  some 
religious  training,  and  has  for  its  object  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  to  those  destitute  of  it, 
the  organization  of  self-supporting  congregations 
and  the  complete  distribution  of  the  Gospel  over 
the  whole  land. 

Home  Missions  in  the  Process  of  Becoming 
a  Science. 

Important  as  the  Home  Mission  work  is  to  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  this  country,  still  it  is  the 
last  church  activity  to  be  reduced  to  a  science. 
All  other  branches  of  church  work  have  been  for- 
mulated into  orderly  systems.  We  have  a  science 
of  Diaconics,  a  science  of  Sunday-school  work, 
etc.,  but  one  will  search  in  vain  for  a  science 
of  Home  Missions.  In  fact,  it  is  just  now  in 
the  process  of  becoming  a  science.  There  are  fun- 
damental principles  underlying  this  work,  but 
as  yet  no  effort  has  been  made  to  discover  and 
classify  them.  Probably  we  have  been  too  busy 
carrying  on  the  work  of  Home  Missions  to  re- 
duce it  to  a  science.  A  moment's  reflection 
will  make  it  apparent  that  the  Church  has 
lost    much    by    reason    of    this    neglect.     The 


A  QENERAIi  SURVEY  15 

accumulated  experience  of  years  of  Home  Mis- 
sion work,  undoubtedly,  will  be  of  great  service 
to  those  who  are  engaged  in  the  work.  As  a 
result  every  missionary  pastor  has  had  to  blaze 
his  own  pathway  through  the  dense  forest  of 
Home  Mission  work.  Not  having  the  experience 
of  former  missionaries  to  guide  him,  each  mis- 
sionary pastor  has  had  to  start  at  the  bottom 
and  build  as  high  as  he  could,  and  when  his  suc- 
cessor came,  he  also  had  to  start  at  the  bottom 
and  build  up.  The  great  wonder  is  that  the 
Church  has  been  able  to  accomplish  as  much  as  it 
has  with  this  method.  Surely,  the  time  has  ar- 
rived when  the  Church's  experience  in  Home 
Mission  work  should  be  gathered,  classified,  and 
systematized. 

The  Doctrine  had  to  be  Settled. 

There  are  many  reasons  why  the  Church  has 
not  developed  a  theory  of  Home  Missions  long 
before  this  time.  One  of  these  reasons  is  that 
the  doctrine  had  to  be  settled  first.  Since  the 
Lutheran  Church  is  the  most  doctrinal  church  in 
the  land,  this  may  appear  to  be  a  strange  state- 
ment, but  it  is  the  statement  of  a  fact.  While  our 
Church  has  always  stood  firmly  on  the  Augsburg 
Confession,  still  it  has  had  to  pass  through  an 
era  of  greac  doctrinal  discussion.  If  the  spirit 
of  Muhlenberg  had  been  carried  out  we  would 
have  solved  the  Home  Mission  problem  long  ago, 


16  LUTHERAN    HOME    MISSIONS 

but  the  era  of  doctrinal  discussion  came  on  and 
that  occupied  the  time  and  attention  of  the  best 
men  in  the  Church,  and  Home  Mission  work  was 
never  systematized.  We  do  not  mean  to  say  that 
the  era  of  doctrinal  discussion  was  not  an  era  of 
Home  Mission  work,  in  fact,  it  was  a  time  of  great 
Home  Mission  activity.  But  this  activity  was 
not  always  prompted  by  the  right  spirit.  Synodi- 
cal  partizanship  instead  of  the  love  of  souls  was 
often  the  underlying  motive.  Men  were  moved 
by  the  desire  of  building  up  a  synod  instead  of 
the  desire  for  building  up  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
Such  a  spirit  could  not  produce  a  true  theory  of 
Home  Missions.  However,  the  day  of  doctrinal 
discussion  has  passed,  and  the  Home  Mission  era 
has  arrived. 

The  Liturgy  had  to  he  Formed. 

Not  only  did  the  doctrines  have  to  be  settled, 
but  the  liturgy  had  to  be  formed.  The  Lutheran 
Church  has  always  been  a  Church  of  law  and 
order,  and  it  always  has  demanded  order  in  its 
worship.  While  the  Church  never  laid  stress  upon 
any  one  form  of  service,  still  it  has  always  been 
a  Church  with  a  liturgy.  When  the  fathers  came 
to  this  country  they  brought  with  them  the  form 
of  service  prevalent  in  that  part  of  Europe  from 
which  they  came.  Coming  as  they  did  from  all 
parts  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Europe,  this 
gave  rise  to  the  most  varied  kinds  of  liturgy.    Be- 


A  GENERAL  SURVEY  17 

ing  a  liturgical  Church  and  having  all  these  vari- 
ous forms  of  service,  and  also  being  surrounded 
by  the  Reformed  Churches,  which  disparage  litur- 
gical forms  of  service,  our  Church  was  precipi- 
tated into  a  liturgical  discussion  which  occupied 
its  attention  for  a  long  time.  This  delayed  Home 
Mission  study.  But  after  a  long  struggle  we  are 
getting  order  out  of  the  liturgical  chaos,  and  the 
work  of  Home  Missions  is  forcing  itself  upon  the 
Church  as  never  before.  Undoubtedly  this  was 
the  divine  order  of  things.  It  was  absolutely 
necessary  that  the  form  of  service  be  settled  be- 
fore the  greatest  Home  Mission  activity  could 
be  put  forth. 

It  was  imperative  that  the  Church  have  a  rec- 
ognized form  of  service  to  offer  to  the  mission 
congregations.  Our  mission  congregations  have 
enough  troubles  without  having  to  go  through  a 
liturgical  debate.  The  Church  did  well  in  form- 
ing the  liturgy  first,  even  if  it  did  retard  Home 
Mission  activity. 

Church  Practice  had  to  be  Settled. 

The  Lutheran  Church  has  always  been  con- 
servative, not  only  in  doctrine,  but  also  in  prac- 
tice. From  the  beginning  it  has  been  as  careful 
about  its  practices  as  about  its  doctrines.  While 
this  may  have  been  a  barrier  to  rapid  progress, 
still  it  has  been  one  of  the  secrets  of  its  success. 
In  the  earlier  days  our  church  practices  were  in 


18  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

a  woeful  condition.  Influenced  on  the  one  hand 
by  the  various  European  practices  and  on  the 
other  hand  by  the  Reformed  Churches  in  this 
country,  the  Lutheran  Church  almost  lost  its  dis- 
tinctive characteristics.  Some  of  the  fathers  even 
went  so  far  as  to  disregard  such  time-honored 
Lutheran  practices  as  catechization  and  confirma- 
tion, and  introduced,  instead,  the  revival  system 
of  the  Methodists.  This,  of  course,  brought  about 
a  deplorable  state  of  affairs  and  retarded  and 
hindered  the  work  of  Home  Missions.  But  for- 
tunately the  revival  of  a  true  Lutheran  conscious- 
ness saved  the  Church  from  impending  ruin.  The 
struggle  for  a  true  Lutheran  church  practice  was 
long  and  severe,  but  it  was  worth  all  it  cost.  With 
a  corrupt  church  practice  our  Church  never  could 
have  carried  on  aggressive  Home  Mission  work. 
The  results  of  corrupt  church  practices  are  abund- 
ant in  the  older  sections  of  our  Church,  and  they 
tell  a  sad  tale.  Much  of  our  early  Home  Mission 
work  was  wrecked  on  this  rock.  But  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  General  Council  marks  the  beginning 
of  a  general  Lutheran  consciousness  and  a  truer 
form  of  church  life.  While  some  of  the  bodies 
had  not  been  contaminated  to  a  large  degree,  still 
this  was  a  signal  for  all  true  Lutherans  in  this 
country  to  go  back  to  the  historic  usages  of  thQ 
Lutheran  Church.  The  advance  along  this  line 
has  been  quite  rapid,  and  now  even  the  most  radi- 
cal synods  have  a  fairly  good  Lutheran  church 
practice.     The  struggle  for  pure  church  practice 


A   QENERAL   SURVEY  19 

was  a  long  one,  but  it  paved  the  way  for  the  Home 
Missionary  era.  An  aggressive  Home  Missionary 
policy,  coupled  to  a  corrupt  practice,  could  not 
have  succeeded.  But  the  struggle  is  over.  The 
practices  have  been  settled  and  the  Home  Mission- 
ary has  something  definite  to  bring  to  his  young 
congregation. 

Inner  Missioris  Brought  to  a  Science. 

While  our  Church  has  had  a  hard  struggle  with 
doctrine,  liturgy  and  church  practices,  still  its 
development  in  this  country  has  not  always  been 
along  American  lines.  We  have  been  greatly  in- 
fluenced from  Europe,  and  this  is  seen  in  our 
Inner  Mission  work  more  plainly  than  in  any 
other  work.  Germany  was  in  need  of  Inner  Mis- 
sion work  and  she  developed  a  science  of  Inner 
Missions  which  was  necessary  and  successful  in 
Germany.  Seeing  the  good  that  this  was  doing  in 
Germany,  our  Church  transplanted  it  to  this 
country  with  the  hope  and  expectation  that  it 
would  meet  with  the  same  success  here.  But  the 
Church  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  The  In- 
ner Mission  work  did  not  meat  with  the  same 
success,  and  there  was  a  reason  for  it:  Ger- 
many had  no  Home  Mission  problem  and  con- 
sequently could  develop  an  Inner  Mission  policy. 
America  had  a  great  Home  Mission  work  and 
could  not  develop  a  successful  Inner  Mission 
work  before  the  Home  Mission  work  was  done. 


20  LUTUEBAX    HOME   MISSIONS 

We  do  not  criticize  the  Inner  Mission  movement, 
we  believe  it  is  a  good  thing,  but  the  Church  in 
this  country  made  the  mistake  of  putting  the  cart 
before  the  horse.  It  tried  to  do  Inner  Mission  work 
before  it  had  even  systematized  its  Home  Mission 
work,  and  consequently  we  have  the  anomaly  of 
possessing  a  working  theory  of  Inner  Missions 
before  we  have  a  practicable  plan  for  our  greatest 
work — Home  Missions.  We  admire  those  who  are 
interested  in  Inner  Missions,  and  we  pray  God's 
greatest  blessings  upon  their  labors,  but  Inner 
Mission  work  in  this  country  will  never  succeed, 
as  it  should,  until  our  Home  Mission  work  is  done. 
Good  and  necessary  as  Inner  Mission  work  is,  still 
it  has  served  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  Church 
away  from  the  larger  to  the  smaller  work.  How- 
ever, we  are  thankful  for  all  the  good  accom- 
plished by  the  Inner  Mission,  even  if  it  did  retard 
Home  Missions  for  some  time. 

A  Broad  Vision. 

Another  necessary  preliminary  to  successful 
Home  Mission  work  was  the  acquiring  of  a  broad 
vision  by  the  whole  Church.  Our  fathers  were 
consecrated  men,  but,  as  a  rule,  they  lacked  vi- 
sion. The  earlier  ones  came  over  with  the  awoved 
purpose  of  building  up  a  foreign  church  in  this 
land.  The  Germans  believed  that  they  could  build 
up  a  German  Church,  and  the  Scandinavians  be- 
lieved they  could  build  up  a  Scandinavian  Church. 
Their  motives  were  good.    Their  work  was  praise- 


A  GENERAL   SXTRVEY  21 

worthy,  but  their  vision  was  defective.  It  took 
a  long  time  before  the  idea  of  an  American  Lu- 
theran Church  was  conceived,  and  when  the  idea 
did  come  into  consciousness,  it  was  so  distorted 
that  it  was  hardly  recognizable.  The  first  vision 
of  an  American  Lutheran  Church  was  that  of  Lu- 
theran in  name  but  Reformed  in  life  and  practice. 
Such  a  vision  could  not  appeal  to  our  people,  and 
it  proved  to  be  a  barrier  rather  than  a  boon.  The 
next  vision  was  that  of  an  American  Lutheran 
Church  which  was  to  do  a  work  for  a  while,  but 
finally  co  be  absorbed  by  the  other  denominations. 
Some  believed  that  as  long  as  the  immigrants 
came,  we  would  have  a  work  to  do,  but  when  they 
and  their  children  became  thoroughly  American- 
ized, that  the  Lutheran  Church  would  lose  its  hold 
upon  them.  We  find  this  view  held  by  some  other- 
wise admirable  men.  Such  a  vision  as  that  could 
not  produce  an  aggressive  Home  Mission  policy. 
Missionaries  would  not  endure  the  hardships  of 
the  work  finally  to  see  their  labors  swallowed  up 
by  the  other  denominations.  As  late  as  1868  it 
was  not  uncommon  to  hear  some  of  the  leaders 
talk  of  dissolving  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  an 
address  at  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  the  Board 
of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  of  the  General 
Synod,  Rev.  G.  W.  Enders  said:  "I  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  General  Synod  of  the  Ev.  Lutheran 
Church  in  1868.  I  recall  the  numerical  smallness 
and  the  largely  discouraging  situation  of  our  Lu- 
theran Church.     I  heard  the  old  pastors  talk  of 


22  lATIIKKA-N     IIOMK    MISSIONS 

dissolving  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America  and 
uniting  with  other  denominations,  for,  said  they, 
'we  will  never  amount  to  much  in  this  country.' 
But  forty  years  have  passed  and  with  them  the 
notes  of  dissolution  and  amalgamation."  With 
such  a  spirit  it  is  no  wonder  that  Home  Missions 
were  not  developed  into  a  science.  It  is  only  in, 
comparatively,  late  years  that  our  Church  has 
received  vision  large  enough  to  arouse  it  to  the 
highest  Home  Mission  activity.  In  recent  years 
we,  as  a  Church,  have  become  conscious  of  the 
fact  that  we  are  a  large  factor  in  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  this  country.  This  vision  has  aroused  the 
Church  to  vigorous  activity.  The  Church  as  a 
whole  has  been  brought  to  realize  that  a  large 
portion  of  our  population  will  never  be  saved  if 
not  saved  by  the  Lutheran  Church.  This  is  a 
splendid  vision  and  is  producing  much  Home  Mis- 
sion activity.  We  are  thankful  for  this  vision, 
but  it  is  not  large  enough. 

Our  Church  does  not  realize  its  strength,  neither 
has  it  an  adequate  conception  of  the  work  God 
has  for  it.  We  believe  that  the  Lutheran  Church 
is  destined  to  be  the  first  church  in  this  land.  Any 
one  that  will  take  time  to  look  can  readily  see  that 
this  is  the  case.  For  three  hundred  years  our 
Church  has  been  in  this  land,  and  all  this  time 
our  doctrines  have  remained  singularly  pure.  For 
three  hundred  years  we  have  been  making  bricks 
for  others.  Much  of  our  work  has  gone  into  other 
churches,  but  in  all  this  time  our  leaders  have  not 


A  GENERAL   SURVEY  23 

lost  heart.  Not  only  that,  but  in  this  time  God 
has  been  sending  us  people  by  the  thousands  and 
the  tens  of  thousands.  They  have  been  coming 
over  to  us  by  the  ship  load. 

While  the  other  denominations  have  been  af- 
fected on  every  hand  with  Higher  Criticism,  our 
Church  has  remained  untouched.  Not  only  have 
we  remained  doctrinally  pure,  not  only  have  we 
been  receiving  people  by  the  thousands,  but  in  the 
mean  time  God  has  been  making  us  rich.  Our 
people  came  to  this  country  poor,  but  they  are 
thrifty  and  they  are  fast  becoming  people  of 
means.  God  is  placing  into  the  hands  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church  great  opportunities.  We  are  des- 
tined to  be  the  first  church  of  America.  When 
once  our  people  come  to  a  realization  of  this 
vision,  then  we  will  make  progress.  Such  a  vision 
is  adequate  for  a  correct  theory  of  Lutheran  Home 
Missions  and  such  alone.  If  the  Lutheran  Church 
does  not  intend  to  take  this  land  for  Christ,  then 
its  Home  Mission  activities  might  as  well  cease 
now  as  a  few  years  from  now.  But  its  activities 
will  not  cease.  This  land  will  be  conquered,  and 
that  not  by  proselyting,  but  by  right  of  pure  faith 
and  scriptural  church  practice.  The  lack  of  vision 
hindered  our  Home  Mission  work,  but  God  is 
raising  up  among  us  "seers"  with  visions  great 
and  large. 


24  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

The  Way  Made  Ready. 

Not  only  was  it  necessary  for  the  Church  to 
settle  the  doctrine,  form  the  liturgy,  establish  cor- 
rect church  practices,  and  acquire  a  vision,  but 
another  thing  was  necessary — the  Church  had  to 
acquire  a  fund  of  missionary  experience.  There 
had  to  be  much  experimenting  before  the  correct 
way  of  carrying  on  Home  Missions  could  be  dis- 
covered. The  Church  was  not  slow  in  doing  this. 
From  the  very  beginning  Home  Mission  work  was 
conducted.  Hampered  by  lack  of  vision,  the 
Church  was  not  deterred  in  its  purpose.  Seeing 
the  spiritual  destitution  of  the  thousands,  it 
brought  unto  them  the  "bread  of  life"  in  the  ves- 
sels at  hand. 


M^ 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Basis  and  Object  of  Home  Missions. 

The  Basis  of  Home  Missions. 
In  the  Old  Testament. 

What  authority  and  precedent  have  we  for  car- 
rying on  Home  Mission  work?  Is  it  commanded 
in  the  Scriptures,  or  is  it  only  a  development  in 
church  life?  We  search  the  Old  Testament  and 
find  little  upon  which  to  base  our  Home  Mission 
work.  The  Jewish  conception  of  spiritual  life 
and  Jewish  forms  of  church  activity  were  so  dif- 
ferent that  we  can  hardly  find  a  parallel.  But 
we  do  find  Home  Mission  conditions.  Particularly 
after  the  Exile  we  find  devout  Jews  in  all  the  large 
cities  of  the  world.  These  needed  the  ministra- 
tions of  their  religion,  and  provision  was  made  for 
them.  Synagogues  were  erected,  places  of  prayer 
were  established,  rabbies  ministered  unto  them 
and  thus  kept  alive  their  religious  faith.  We  do 
not  know  what  plan  the  Jews  followed  in  conduct- 
ing this  work,  but  we  do  know  that  it  was  carried 

Lutheran  Home  Mit^ximis.  3 


26  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

on.  Gathering  up  those  of  the  household  of  faith 
who  were  away  from  the  ministrations  of  the 
temple  was  part  of  the  Jewish  economy.  We  know 
that  there  were  synagogues  all  over  Asia  at  the 
time  Paul  went  forth  to  preach.  While  we  do  not 
find  specific  command  for  Home  Mission  work  in 
the  Old  Testament,  we  at  least  find  the  precedent 
for  such  work. 

In  the  New  Testament. 

We  look  to  the  New  Testament  for  our  com- 
mands and  precepts,  and  we  do  not  look  in  vain. 
Christ's  command  and  example  not  only  give  sanc- 
tion to  the  work,  but  they  become  its  initiative. 
On  this  point  we  quote  Rev.  Morris  Officer.  He 
says:  "The  department  of  Home  Missions  as  a 
separate  branch  of  the  whole  finds  its  sanction 
and  its  type  in  the  personal  ministry  of  our  Lord 
on  earth,  and  in  the  temporary  commission  of 
the  twelve.  Christ's  own  ministry  was  addressed 
only  to  the  'lost  sheep  of  the  House  of  Israel,' 
though  his  message  went  much  farther;  and  the 
twelve,  and  also  the  seventy,  were  not  to  'go  into 
the  way  of  the  Gentiles,  nor  into  any  city  of  the 
Samaritans,'  but  were  to  minister  only  to  the 
same  scattered  household,  in  the  places  'whither 
the  Lord  himself  would  come.'  All  of  the  min- 
istrations, therefore,  were  distinctly  limited  to  the 
home  field  of  the  Jewish  people;  and  these  high 
examples  fully  warrant  the  recognition  and  in- 
stituting ever  of  this  department  of  the  work." 


THE    BASIS    AND    OBJECT    OV    HOME    MISSIONS  27 

Prof.  E.  Pfeiffer  in  his  Mission  Studies  says: 
"Home  Mission  work  comes  first  in  the  Biblical 
and  natural  order  of  work.  The  Great  Commis- 
sion has  been  called  the  Church's  'marching  or- 
ders.' So  regarded  it  also  points  out  plainly  the 
order  of  march.  Witness  is  to  be  borne  unto 
Christ  for  the  planting  and  extension  of  his  king- 
dom in  Jerusalem  (the  home  church,  parish  and 
city  missions),  and  in  all  Judea  and  Samaria 
(home  missions),  and  unto  the  uttermost  part  of 
the  earth  (foreign  missions).  It  would  be  fatal 
folly  as  well  as  unfaithfulness  to  neglect  the  work 
at  our  doors  in  our  eagerness  to  get  to  distant 
parts.  The  very  nature  of  the  work  of  missions, 
witnessing  for  Christ,  confessing  the  faith, 
preaching  the  Gospel,  always  leads  and  must  lead 
from  center  to  circumference,  from  the  individual 
believer  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  in  doing 
so  it  aims  under  normal  conditions  to  influence 
all  the  territory  that  lies  between." 

We  find  our  warrant  for  Home  Mission  work  in 
Christ's  command  and  example.  He  was  the  first 
Home  Missionary.  In  fact  his  whole  ministry  was 
a  work  of  Home  Missions.  He  "came  unto  his 
own."  With  this  high  example  before  us,  our 
Church  dares  not  neglect  nor  despise  the  work  on 
the  home  field.  In  fact,  if  the  Church  would  have 
been  filled  with  the  spirit  of  Christ  we  would  not 
be  studying  the  science  of  Home  Missions  at  this 
late  date.  If  we  would  have  followed  his  example 
our  Home  Mission  work  would  have  been  done 


28  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

long  ago.  There  is  no  question  about  precedent, 
we  have  the  greatest  example  of  the  age  before 
us:  Jesus  Christ  himself  doing  Home  Mission 
work.  The  question  now  is:  Will  we  follow  his 
example  and  do  the  work? 

The  Example  of  the  Apostles. 

Not  only  have  we  the  command  and  example  of 
the  Lord  himself,  but  we  have  also  the  example 
of  the  apostles.  It  was  to  them  the  great  commis- 
sion was  given,  and  they  understood  it,  not  only 
of  the  foreign  field,  but  also  of  the  home  field.  They 
went  first  unto  those  of  the  household  of  faith  and 
afterwards  unto  those  without.  They  first  preached 
the  Gospel  unto  the  Jews  and  afterwards  unto  the 
Gentiles.  "Beginning  at  Jerusalem,"  they  were  to 
go  unto  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  Had 
they  not  first  done  their  Home  Missionary  work, 
their  foreign  work  would  have  resulted  in  utter 
failure.  Even  when  they  went  outside  of  their 
own  land  and  began  preaching  the  Gospel,  they 
used  the  Home  Mission  principle,  namely, 
preached  to  those  of  the  Jewish  faith  first.  When- 
ever Paul  went  into  a  new  city  he  first  hunted 
up  the  Jews  and  preached  to  them,  and  whenever 
possible  he  used  them  as  a  nucleus  for  the  Chris- 
tian congregation  which  he  organized.  In  the 
economy  of  grace  nothing  is  to  be  lost.  The 
Church  is  to  be  planted  and  grow  by  gathering 
up  the  fragments.  The  scattered  Jews  in  the 
cities  and   towns  of  Asia   were  to   become   the 


TIIK    HASIS    AND    OIMKCT    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  29 

foundation  stones  in  the  new  Christian  Church, 
and  so  also  are  the  scattered  Lutherans  in  the 
cities,  towns,  and  rural  districts  of  our  country 
to  become  the  pillars  of  the  glorious  Church  which 
is  now  being  called  into  existence  through  our 
Home  Mission  propaganda. 

The  Love  of  Christ  in  the  Hearts  of  Believers. 

Whatever  precedent  we  may  find  in  the  apostles, 
or  in  the  apostolic  Church,  the  true  basis  of  Home 
Iviissions  is  the  love  of  Christ  in  the  hearts  of  be- 
lievers. Without  this  love  all  forms  of  church 
activity  are  impossible.  "The  love  of  Christ  con- 
straineth  us"  is  the  mainspring  of  Home  Mission- 
ary endeavor.  When  that  love  is  shed  abroad  in 
our  hearts  we  will  not  ask  whether  people  are 
worthy  of  our  gifts  and  labors  in  their  behalf.  It 
is  not  a  question  whether  the  scattered  brethren 
are  worthy  or  unworthy  of  our  efforts  or  not,  it 
is  a  question  whether  the  love  of  Christ  is  in  our 
hearts  and  constraineth  us.  The  world  was  not 
worthy  of  Christ,  but  "while  we  were  yet  sinners, 
he  died  for  the  ungodly."  The  world  was  not 
worthy  of  the  prophets  and  apostles  whom  the 
Lord  sent  to  the  perishing,  yet  they  lived  and  died, 
bearing  witness  of  their  Redeemer's  name  and 
declaring  the  things  that  belong  to  the  kingdom 
of  God.  The  world  is  not  worthy  to-day  of  the 
Lord  and  his  faithful  servants,  still  the  Saviour's 
command  is  in  force  and  lays  a  sacred  obligation 


30  LUTHEKAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

upon  our  hearts:  "Go  into  all  the  world  and  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature." 

How  about  our  brethren  scattered  throughout 
the  cities  of  our  eastern,  central,  and  western 
states?  How  about  the  strangers  who  come  to 
our  shores  in  large  numbers  and  are  rapidly  popu- 
lating the  great  territory  of  the  west  and  north- 
west? Many  feel  that  they  ought  to  take  care  of 
their  own  interests  as  we  take  care  of  ours.  They 
are  themselves  largely  at  fault.  Why  do  they  not 
settle  down  in  districts  and  cities  where  churches 
are  established  ?  Why  do  they  leave  their  churches 
and  wander  away  to  spiritually  desert  and  waste 
places  and  then  cry  for  the  bread  of  life?  There 
is  doubtless  much  truth  in  all  this.  The  conduct 
of  many  is  blameworthy  and  unaccountable  in  this 
respect.  They  will  have  to  answer  for  their  way- 
wardness and  contempt  of  holy  things.  But  the 
objections  do  not  apply  in  every  case.  And  even 
if  they  did,  this  would  not  excuse  the  Church  for 
neglecting  to  minister  unto  the  wants  of  those  who 
are  unworthy  of  help.  Their  waywardness  is  not 
a  justification  for  our  neglect. 

If  the  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us  we  will 
exercise  pity,  when  justice  might  censure.  When 
we  encounter  the  blind,  even  though  they  them- 
selves may  have  caused  their  blindness,  shall  we 
withhold  our  help  and  let  them  fall  into  the  ditch  ? 
Shall  the  destitute  appeal  to  our  sympathies  in 
vain,  even  though  they  are  the  authors  of  their 
own  destruction?    Christ  has  not  dealt  with  men 


THE    BASIS    AXU    OBJLCT    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  31 

thus.  It  is  not  in  this  spirit  that  he  deals  with  us. 
In  view  of  the  Saviour's  boundless  love  to  us,  let 
us  not  manifest  such  heartlessness  towards  our 
fellow-men.  The  scope  of  our  ability  and  the  ex- 
tent of  our  opportunity  are  the  measures  of  our 
duty.  Worthy  or  unworthy,  the  love  of  Christ 
constrains  us  to  prosecute  the  large  Home  Mission 
endeavor.  Our  brethren  need  the  Gospel.  It  is 
within  our  power  to  give  it  to  them.  Neglect  this 
duty,  and  we  deny  the  faith  and  are  not  worthy 
the  name  we  bear. 

The  Object  of  Home  Missions. 

Having  discovered  the  basis  of  Home  Missions 
we  now  ask  what  is  the  object  of  this  missionary 
endeavor.  For  what  definite  purpose  is  this  work 
carried  on? 

To  Save  Souls. 

Home  Missions  seek  the  same  results  as  For- 
eign Missions  or  any  other  Christian  activity — 
the  salvation  of  souls.  The  work  of  the  Church 
in  all  its  ramifications  is  to  bring  men  into  the 
kingdom  of  God.  This  is  the  supreme  object  of 
Home  Missions.  The  scattered  brethren  in  the 
homeland,  whoever  they  may  be,  wherever  they 
may  have  come  from,  whatever  their  present  con- 
dition may  be,  have  souls  which  are  precious  in 
the  sight  of  the  Lord.  It  is  the  object  of  Home 
Missions  to  gamer  these  precious  sheaves  into 
God's  granary.    If  this  were  not  the  supreme  ob- 


UTHERAX    HOME   MISSIONS 


ject,  then  Home  Mission  work  might  as  well  cease. 
That  missionary  endeavor  which  does  not  save  is 
not  worth  the  effort.  But  Home  Mission  work 
does  save.  In  fact  it  is  the  most  successful  branch 
of  church  activity.  Going  out  into  the  spiritually 
waste  places  of  the  land  it  gathers  into  God's  king- 
dom souls  by  the  hundreds  and  thousands.  The 
history  of  Home  Missions  is  the  story  of  souls 
being  saved.  Take  away  the  results  of  Home 
Missionary  endeavor  from  the  Church  in  this 
country  and  you  rob  it  of  its  crowning  glory. 
Home  Missions  have  saved  more  souls  than  any 
other  church  activity.  Take  up  the  annual  re- 
ports of  any  Lutheran  synod  and  go  back  twenty 
years  and  compute  the  results  of  Home  Mission 
work,  and  the  sum  total  will  be  astonishing. 

Home  Missionaries  go  out  on  the  frontier  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  those  who  have  wandered 
away  from  civilization  and  out  of  reach  of  the 
ministrations  of  the  Church.  They  keep  on  preach- 
ing the  Gospel  until  it  has  touched  the  hearts  of 
these  frontier  men  and  melted  them  unto  repent- 
ance. And  having  once  brought  them  under  the 
Gospel  influence,  they  do  not  leave  them  to  them- 
selves to  fall  back  again  into  old  sins,  but  con- 
tinue to  feed  and  nourish  their  spiritual  life  until 
they  become  men  of  God. 

Home  Missionaries  meet  the  immigrant  who  has 
come  to  this  country  to  seek  his  fortune.  They 
come  to  him  in  his  lonesomeness  and  poverty 
and    proclaim    the    Gospel    of    salvation.     They 


IIIK    MASIS     AM)    Oli.lIXT    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  33 

come  to  him  when  he  most  needs  spiritual  help 
and  bring  to  him  the  sweet  message  of  the  Re- 
deemer's love  in  a  strange  land.  The  Home  Mis- 
sion work  of  the  Lutheran  Church  among  the  im- 
migrants has  been  its  glory.  Tens  of  thousands 
of  Christian  people  throughout  this  land  are  in 
the  Church  of  Christ  to-day  because  brought  there 
and  kept  there  by  Home  Mission  agencies. 

Not  only  are  Home  Missionaries  saving  men  on 
the  frontier,  not  only  are  they  saving  the  immi- 
grant, but  right  in  the  midst  of  our  densest 
population  they  go  and  plant  the  Church  and 
gather  from  the  burning  precious  jewels  for  the 
Redeemer's  crown.  In  our  cities  as  well  as  in  the 
sparcely  settled  districts.  Home  Missionaries  have 
established  their  work  and  are  gathering  a  won- 
derful harvest. 

The  object  of  Home  Missions  is  the  salvation 
of  souls  and  the  building  up  of  the  Church,  and 
the  task  is  being  accomplished.  Only  eternity 
itself  can  reveal  the  great  good  Home  Missionaries 
are  accomplishing  throughout  the  land.  One  of 
the  glories  of  heaven  will  be  the  praises  of  the  re- 
deemed for  the  Home  Mission  work  in  this  land. 

To  Build  up  the  Church. 

The  work  of  Home  Missions  is  not  done  when 
individuals  have  been  brought  into  proper  rela- 
tion with  their  Master.  It  seeks  also  to  organize 
these  individuals  and  build  up  the  Church.  If 
Home  Mission  work  was  simply  a  matter  of  con- 


34  T,tTTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

version  it  would  be  a  comparatively  simple  task. 
But  that  is  only  the  beginning.  The  one  who  has 
been  brought  to  the  Redeemer  must  now  be  built 
up  in  the  faith  and  placed  in  proper  relation  to 
the  Church  and  to  his  brethren.  Home  Mission 
work  is  not  simply  a  matter  of  gathering  together 
an  aggregation  of  Christian  people.  It  must 
mould  them  into  a  congregation  and  set  that  con- 
gregation into  right  relations  with  the  whole 
Church.  In  this  way  Home  Missions  build  up 
the  whole  Church.  We  quote  Rev.  Morris  Officer : 
"It  is  to  invite  into  the  kingdom  all  those  who, 
living  in  Christian  countries,  are,  in  some  man- 
ner, made  ready  for  entrance,  and  then,  with  the 
cooperation  of  these,  to  establish  the  Gospel  ordi- 
nance. It  is  to  bring  the  partially  cultivated  field 
to  fruitfulness  and  place  it  under  the  immediate 
and  permanent  care  of  its  own  husbandman.  It 
is  to  reenter  the  waste  places,  and  there  to  raise 
up  anew  the  Christian  Church  and  provide  it  with 
a  settled  ministry.  It  is  to  gather  again  the  dis- 
tracted and  deserted  charge,  and  bring  it  to  order 
and  readiness  for  the  regular  pastor.  In  short, 
it  is  to  take  up  the  unfinished  or  long  impaired 
work  at  whatever  stage  or  state  it  may  be  found 
and  carry  it  forward  to  its  completion  in  the 
establishment,  or  re-establishment,  of  the  pastoral 
district.  This  is  the  goal  of  its  efforts,  the  con- 
summation of  its  designs  as  a  department  of  labor 

of  the  Church It  should  at  any  rate  enter 

every  unoccupied  place  and  there  make  a  faithful 


THK    BASIS    AND    OBJECT    OV    HOME    MISSIONS  35 

and  earnest  endeavor  to  accomplish  its  wanted 
work.  It  is  to  fill  up  every  vacancy  between  ex- 
isting pastorates,  and  then  make  the  limits  of  one 
adjoin  those  of  another,  throughout  Christen- 
dom." 

To  Nationalize  the  Church  in  this  Country. 

Lutheran  Home  Missions  not  only  aim  at  build- 
ing up  the  Church,  but  also  at  nationalizing  the 
Church.  The  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country  is 
peculiarly  situated.  Coming  here  from  Europe 
it  has  now  three  grand  divisions,  namely  the 
American,  speaking  the  English  language,  the 
German,  speaking  the  German  language,  and  the 
Scandinavian,  speaking  the  various  Scandinavian 
languages.  These  three  elements  all  agree  on  the 
fundamentals  of  faith,  but  they  are  widely  diverse 
in  national  characteristics,  temperaments,  tradi- 
tions and  church  polity.  To  take  this  heterogene- 
ous mass  and  mould  it  into  one  national  Lutheran 
Church  is  the  Herculean  task  set  before  Home 
Missions.  As  the  situation  now  stands  we  have 
an  English  Lutheran  Church,  a  German  Lutheran 
Church,  and  a  Scandinavian  Lutheran  Church.  A 
moment's  reflection  will  convince  anyone  that 
this  state  of  affairs  cannot  continue  indefinitely. 
These  various  nationalities  may  be  able  to  main- 
tain a  distinct  and  separate  existence  for  years, 
but  the  final  consummation  must  be  an  American 
Lutheran  Church.    If  the  Lutheran  Church  is  to 


36  H'THKItAN    IIOMK    MISSIONS 

do  the  work  which  God  has  given  it  to  do,  it  must 
become  nationalized.  It  cannot  live  forever  under 
the  stars  and  stripes  dominated  by  foreign  tradi- 
tions, foreign  sentiments  and  foreign  methods. 
It  must  be  nationalized  to  become  the  Church  of 
the  American  people.  This  undoubtedly  will  be 
a  long,  tedious  task.  It  will  take  years  and  years. 
It  will  take  generations  to  complete  the  work. 

The  necessity  of  nationalizing  the  Church  was 
in  the  minds  of  some  of  our  Home  Mission  leaders 
years  ago.  We  quote  at  length  from  Rev.  W.  A. 
Passavant.  He  recognized  the  necessity  and  dif- 
ficulties when  he  said :  "But  to  nationalize  the 
Church  requires  more  than  strength  of  numbers. 
It  means  gradually  to  unify  its  polyglot  masses 
as  much  by  a  common  language  and  spirit  as  by 
a  common  faith  and  service.  This  has  been  the 
aim  and  constant  prayer  and  effort  of  those  who 
love  the  Lutheran  Church  and  sincerely  believe 
that  it  has  a  grand  role  to  play  in  the  ecclesiastical 
history  of  America.  The  General  Council  pur- 
posed from  the  beginning  that  the  different  lan- 
guages and  nationalities  'should  be  firmly  knit 
together  in  this  New  World  in  the  unity  of  one 
and  the  same  pure  faith.'  Although  including 
some  American,  but  strong  German  and  Scandi- 
navian elements,  yet  English  was  made  the  of- 
ficial language  of  the  Council,  and  it  has  been  its 
English  books  and  publications,  both  private  and 
official,  that  irresistibly  indicate  to  those  both  in 
and  out  of  the  Church  that  this   is  the   Body 


THE    BASIS    AND   OBJECT   OF    HOME    MISSIONS  37 

whose  fidelity  to  Truth,  and  aggressiveness  in 
spreading  it  through  its  Home  Missions,  is  to 
make  the  Lutheran  Church  develop  into  a  great 
national  communion. 

"The  prime  importance  of  this  English  work 
in  the  mission  field,  and  the  strong  claims  upon 
every  lover  of  the  truth  to  his  recognition  and 
liberal  support,  become  at  once  evident.  Not  the 
mere  aiding  of  a  mission  in  far  off  Seattle,  or  the 
support  of  an  English  Lutheran  enterprise  in  Salt 
Lake  City  is  asked  for,  but  the  co-operation  of 
all  in  thus  bringing,  in  these  and  a  dozen  other 
places,  Lutheran  truth  and  consistency  and  rev- 
erence for  the  Word  to  the  notice  of  and  recogni- 
tion by  such  representative  communities  which 
know  our  Church  otherwise  only  as  a  foreign  and 
hence  often  despised  communion.  Of  course  it 
does  more  than  this.  Our  scattered  people  are 
gathered  in,  strangers  to  God  and  church  are  res- 
cued, a  reflex  impulse  is  given  to  Christian  ac- 
tivity at  home  that  is  felt  through  every  depart- 
ment of  work  in  the  older  congregations,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  influence  of  example  upon  our 
brethren  of  the  same  faith,  but  different  language, 
and  in  stirring  them  up  to  provide  their  own  chil- 
dren with  church  privileges  in  the  language  of 
the  land.  The  Board  of  Home  Missions  fully 
realizes  how  much  is  involved  in  steadily  pushing 
to  success  our  present  important  missions  in  the 
West  and  is  greatly  enlarging  their  number  and 
scope.  ...   If  we  are  rational  enough  to  improve 


38  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

our  present  splendid  opportunities  we  will  soon 
become  national  in  our  power  as  a  Church  to  make 
and  sway  the  religious  convictions  of  the  country." 

To  Save  the  Country. 

Another  supreme  work  before  Home  Missions 
is  that  of  saving  our  country.  It  is  conceded  by 
all  that  our  country  is  facing  a  crisis  of  momen- 
tous importance.  We  have  had  our  struggle  for 
liberty.  We  have  fought  our  battles  for  national 
unity,  but  we  are  now  going  through  an  industrial 
crisis  which  will  shake  our  nation  to  the  very 
foundation.  The  present  industrial  changes  are 
the  throes  from  which  a  new  civilization  is  to  be 
born.  The  present  industrial  crisis  is  doomed  to 
shake  our  moral  fiber  to  the  very  root.  If  the 
Church  capnot  hold  up  the  moral  life  of  our  people 
we  are  destined  to  quick  disintegration.  Indus- 
trial changes  have  brought  about  the  migration 
of  nations  which  threatens  to  engulf  our  country. 
It  has  also  developed  a  worldly  spirit  of  freedom 
and  justice.  Home  Mission  must  overcome  both 
tendencies.  In  regard  to  the  first,  Rev.  Chas.  W. 
Heisler  says :  "We  have  in  this  land  a  most  hetero- 
geneous complexity  of  population.  .  .We  have  been 
receiving  within  our  borders  a  motly  throng  of 
Englishmen  and  Irishmen,  of  Scotchmen  and 
Welshmen,  of  German  and  Dutch,  of  French  and 
Russian,  of  Laps  and  Poles,  of  Bulgarians  and 
Hungarians,  of  Austrians  and  Italians,  of  Swiss 
and    Servians,    of   Spanish    and    Portuguese,    of 


THE   BASIS    AND   OBJECT   OF    HOME    MISSIONS  39 

Greeks  and  Armenians,  of  Turks  and  Arabians, 
of  Hindoos  and  Persians,  of  Egyptians  and  Ethi- 
opians, of  Chinese  and  Japanese,  besides  stran- 
gers from  the  isles  of  the  sea.  And  the  problem 
is  to  amalgamate  at  least  the  most  of  these  diverse 
elements  into  a  strong  homogeneous  people.  That 
means  that  we  are  here  developing  a  new  national 
type.  It  is  not  English  or  German,  or  Anglo- 
Saxon  even;  it  is  American,  a  new  unique  type. 
Some  of  the  strongest  nationalities  of  history  have 
been  composite.  Now  to  my  mind  the  two  most 
potent  forces  in  this  marvelous  process  of  amalga- 
mation are  the  public  school  and  the  Christian 
Church.  The  children  of  these  diverse  races  un- 
der the  same  educational  process  are  being  mould- 
ed into  national  homogeneity.  The  Christian 
Church  is  accomplishing  the  same  results  in  her 
sanctuaries  and  through  the  influence  of  Chris- 
tian social  life.  And  no  Protestant  Church  in 
this  country  has  so  large  and  important  a  part 
to  play  in  the  process  as  the  Lutheran.  Her 
responsibility  here  is  unspeakable.  Have  we  suf- 
ficiently realized  this  ?  She  has  been  meeting  this 
obligation  to  some  extent  by  caring  for  the  chil- 
dren of  her  own  household  of  faith  and  by  some 
feeble  effort  to  reach  the  unsaved  masses." 

These  various  nationalities  must  be  amalga- 
mated into  American  citizens,  and  they  must  be 
kept  Christian  when  they  are  Christianized ;  when 
they  are  not  they  must  be  Christianized.  This 
latter  work  is  the  duty  of  the  Home  Missions,  and 


40  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

no  other  church  in  the  land  has  such  a  responsi- 
bility as  our  Lutheran  Church.  If  these  incoming 
multitudes  are  not  Americanized,  then  our  insti- 
tutions are  doomed  to  decay,  and  if  they  are  not 
Christianized  our  Church  is  doomed  to  die.  Either 
thing  would  prove  disastrous  to  this  land.  Home 
Missions  must  save  the  country. 

Other  perils  before  our  country  are:  material- 
ism, indifference  and  formalism.  These  are 
threatening  the  very  existence  of  the  country  and 
of  the  Church.  Home  Mission  will  take  a  large 
part  in  saving  the  country  from  their  baneful  in- 
fluence. Speaking  of  these  perils  Rev.  L.  M.  Zim- 
mermann,  D.  D.,  says:  "One  of  the  great  perils 
is  that  of  materialism.  Our  country  is  becoming 
more  and  more  a  moneyed  monarchy.  Money  is 
a  great  idol  in  America.  Perhaps  in  no  country 
does  money  count  for  so  much  as  in  this  country. 
In  some  other  countries  a  man's  position  counts 
for  much,  but  here  it  is  largely,  'What  is  he 
worth?'  that  is,  in  dollars  and  cents  rather  than 
in  character  and  good  morals.  Money  is  the  great 
passport  into  the  high  circles  of  society  rather 
than  character. 

"Belshazzarism  is  another  peril  which  threatens 
the  peace  and  safety  of  our  nation.  There  is  a 
pace  that  kills,  and  among  many  of  the  rising  gen- 
eration can  be  found  that  pace.  There  are  halls 
to-day  as  infamous,  and  occupied  by  as  select  a 
people  as  in  the  time  of  Belshazzar,  where  scenes 
no   less   objectionable   are   being  enacted.     And, 


THE   BASIS    AND   OBJECT   OF    HOME   MISSIONS  41 

worst  of  it  all,  it  is  regarded  as  being  all  right, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  one  vies  with  the 
other  at  the  intoxicating  cup  until  all  sense  of  just 
propriety  is  gone. 

"Indifferentism  is  still  another  peril  which 
threatens  the  spiritual  life  of  the  people  of  to-day. 
There  was  a  time  when,  for  example,  the  Wednes- 
day evening  service  in  the  church  was  held  sacred 
by  many.  To-day,  the  lodge,  the  club,  societies, 
pleasures,  are  so  crowding  in  that  it  is  scarcely 
worthy  in  many  places  of  being  called  a  church 
night.  The  same  is  true  with  many  as  regards 
their  sense  of  obligation  to  God  and  the  church 
on  the  Lord's  day.  Room  for  everything  else  than 
for  Christ  is  the  condition  of  not  a  few. 

"Formalism  is  also  a  peril  with  many.  There 
is  danger  of  following  God  in  a  mere  formal  man- 
ner, instead  of  worshiping  him  in  spirit  and  truth. 
Not  enough  to-day  are  born  of  the  Spirit  and  too 
many  are  following  'afar  off.'  Even  the  parents 
lost  sight  of  their  Child  on  their  return  from 
Jerusalem,  and  there  are  many  like  them  to-day, 
who  have  lost  the  Christ  Child  and  are  apparently 
unconscious  of  the  fact.  We  need,  therefore,  to 
be  cautious  lest  unawares  we  too  lose  him.  We 
need  to  follow  close  by  his  side  that,  like  the 
woman  of  old  who  touched  him,  we  too  may  re- 
ceive virtue  from  him  and  be  healed  of  all  our 
diseases." 

It  is  the  task  of  Home  Mission  work  to  meet 
these  perils  and  overcome  them.     Undoubtedly 

Lvtheran  Home  Mix/finnx.  4 


42  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

then  Home  Mission  work  has  become  a  patriotic 
work.  It  is  not  simply  a  matter  of  saving  the 
individual  and  communities,  but  it  has  before  it 
the  supreme  task  of  saving  the  nation.  To  crip- 
ple or  retard  Home  Mission  work  handicaps  the 
Church  and  imperils  the  nation.  Home  Missions 
must  save  this  land. 

To  Strengthen  Foreign  Missions. 

Home  Mission  work  is  not  an  enemy  but  a  friend 
of  all  other  church  activity.  Foreign  Missions  have 
been  given  the  preeminence,  but  this  has  been  a 
mistake.  While  all  nations  are  to  be  brought  un- 
der the  influence  of  the  Gospel,  still  those  in  the 
homeland  must  come  first.  Home  Mission  work 
has  for  its  object  the  strengthening  of  Foreign 
Missions.  Foreign  Missions  cannot  be  maintained 
without  a  base  of  supplies,  and  Home  Missions 
become  this  base  of  supplies.  We  give  the  words 
of  Rev.  Chas.  S.  Albert  on  this  point:  "The  base 
of  supplies  for  Foreign  Missions  is  Home  Mis- 
sions. Every  Home  Mission  congregation  prop- 
erly trained  becomes  an  important  factor  in  the 
foreign  mission  work.  The  membership  from  the 
beginning  are  instructed  to  contribute  to  Foreign 
Missions,  and  after  they  reach  self-support,  num- 
bers of  them  are  among  the  most  liberal  givers 
to  the  foreign  cause.  'If  you  limit  your  base  of 
supplies  you  cripple  your  outside  efforts.'  It  is 
well  for  all  of  us  to  remember  this.  The  base  of 
supplies  for   all  our   work — educational,   minis- 


THE    BASIS    AND    OBJECT    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  43 

terial,  mission  and  benevolent — is  the  congrega- 
tion. If  the  congregations  are  strong,  all  the  in- 
terests of  the  Church  thrive;  if  they  increase  in 
numbers,  the  whole  work  broadens  and  moves 
forward  in  every  direction,  provided  always  the 
spiritual  power  be  maintained. 

"The  Home  Mission  work  deals  directly  with 
the  base  of  supplies.  If  we  subtract  the  missions 
of  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  how  much  of 
the  active  strength  of  the  Church  disappears. 
These  mission  churches  have  furnished  us  noble 
ministers  and  large  contributions  to  the  enterprise 
of  the  Church.  Our  work  without  them  would 
be  but  a  portion  of  what  it  now  is.  Let  me  en- 
force this  by  an  allusion  to  our  foreign  field,  and 
this  in  a  spirit  of  love  for  that  work.  Our  foreign 
work  increases;  the  resources  from  the  mission 
field  are  scanty.  Indian  Christians  are  poor  and 
can  contribute  but  a  small  fraction  of  the  funds 
necessary  for  their  support.  Little  can  be  ex- 
pected from  them  for  some  time  to  come.  The 
financial  support  must  be  provided  by  the  churches 
in  this  country.  Unless  we  can  rapidly  extend 
our  home  work,  the  increasing  demands,  just  and 
necessary,  can  not  be  met.  The  base  of  supplies 
will  be  too  limited  to  meet  the  requirements.  We 
ought  not  to  do  less  for  Foreign  Missions.  We 
ought  to  do  more.  But  we  must,  in  the  broad- 
mindedness  of  a  Church  looking  to  the  future, 
realize  the  absolute  need  to  press  our  home  work 
vigorously.    Gifts  to  the  home  field  are,  in  an  in- 


44  LUTHERAN   HOME  illSSIONS 

direct  way,  gifts  to  every  benevolent  enterprise 
of  the  Church.  The  base  of  supplies  is  enlarged 
and  increased ;  help,  therefore,  can  be  sent  wher- 
ever it  is  wanted." 

To  Promote  Inner  Missions. 

Home  Missions  promote  Inner  Missions.  In- 
ner Missions  cannot  exist  without  a  strong  church 
constituency  behind  it  and  a  strong  sense  of  duty 
towards  the  submerged  and  downtrodden.  In  its 
work  of  building  up  and  developing  the  Church, 
Home  Missions  gather  this  strong  constituency 
and  develop  this  strong  sense  of  duty.  Until 
Home  Mission  work  has  first  been  done.  Inner 
Missions  are  handicapped.  That  is  the  reason  why 
Inner  Mission  work  has  made  such  slow  progress 
in  this  country.  Inner  Mission  work  follows  and 
is  dependent  upon  Home  Missions.  We  have  been 
trying  to  do  Inner  Mission  work  to  the  neglect 
of  Home  Missions  and  consequently  have  almost 
made  a  failure. 

The  Home  Mission  work  does  not  simply  aim 
at  promoting  certain  forms  of  church  activity, 
but  its  object  is  to  advance  all  kinds  of  Christian 
work  and  Christian  philanthropy.  Home  Mission 
work  is  foreign  to  no  form  of  church  work  that 
will  promote  and  advance  the  kingdom  of  God.  It 
is  the  handmaiden  of  all,  and  renders  its  service  in 
the  spirit  of  love  and  obedience.  When  the  object 
of  church  activity  is  the  poor  and  outcast.  Home 
Missions  do  their  duty.    Is  the  endeavor  along  the 


THE    BASIS    AiSU    OBJECT    OF    HOME    MISSIOXS  45 

line  of  education,  Home  Missions  lift  up  their 
voices.  Is  the  work  with  the  immigrant,  Home 
Missions  are  the  first  to  take  him  by  the  hand. 
Unlike  other  branches  of  church  work  Home  Mis- 
sions cover  the  whole  field  of  Christian  activity. 


CHAPTER.  III. 

The  Importance  of  Home  Missions. 

This  country  is  not  yet  taken  for  Christ.  There 
are  more  than  40,000,000  people  in  this  land  who 
have  no  active  connection  with  the  Church.  These, 
millions  must  be  saved.  They  must  be  brought 
into  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  it  is  the  work  of 
Home  Missions  to  do  this. 

Again  Home  Mission  work  assumes  its  import- 
ance from  the  fact  that  this  is  the  very  essence  of 
mission  endeavor.  It  is  fundamental  to  the  life  of 
the  Church  and  becomes  in  this  land  the  center  of 
all  advancement.  Neglect  Home  Mission  work  in 
this  land  and  all  other  Christian  activities  will 
come  to  a  standstill.  It  was  Prof.  Austin  Phelps 
who  said :  "I  confess  that  the  home  work  does  loom 
up  before  me  with  a  painful  and  threatening  mag- 
nitude which  suggests  the  query  whether  it  is 
reasonable  to  expect  much  expansion  of  the  For- 
eign service  before  the  home  field  is  more  thor- 
oughly mastered.  There  is  a  law  of  give  and  take 
in  these  things  which  is  as  inexorable  in  the  work 


THE   IMPORTANCE   OF    HOME   MISSIONS  47 

of  the  world's  conversion  as  in  any  other.  We 
cannot  convert  foreign  lands  without  a  certain 
amount  of  spiritual  power  at  home.  We  cannot 
give  what  we  have  not  received.  And  the  power 
at  home  must  come  from  a  broader  and  deeper 
spiritual  culture:  and  this  demands  time,  money, 
labor,  and  prayer.  'Beginning  at  Jerusalem,'  such 
was  our  Lord's  direction  to  the  apostles  at  the 
outset  of  the  great  work,  and  this  is  the  central 
law  of  missions  for  all  time.  We  must  keep  the 
home  work  well  in  hand  and  uplifted  above  all 
chance  of  failure." 

Home  Missions  serve  to  Maintain  the  Numerical 
Strength  of  the  Church. 

Home  Mission  work  assumes  importance  be- 
cause it  serves  to  maintain  the  numerical  strength 
of  the  Church.  From  the  early  days  our  popula- 
tion has  been  unsettled.  People  with  active  church 
connection  have  moved  away  in  search  of  adven- 
ture and  fortune.  The  Church  was  not  established 
where  they  settled  and  soon  they  degenerated  mor- 
ally and  spiritually.  This  migration  always  af- 
fected the  home  church.  Often  its  membership 
was  so  depleted  that  it  stood  on  the  verge  of  ruin. 
It  was  Home  Missions  that  followed  up  these  wan- 
derers into  their  new  homes  and  established  the 
numerical  strength  of  the  Church  and  secured  it 
from  disintegration  and  ruin.  The  history  of 
the  Church  in  the  Middle  and  far  West  is  the  story 
of  gathering  into  congregations  those  who  wan- 


4S  J.CTilERAX    HOME   .MISSIONS 

dered  away  from  the  home  church.  The  early 
home  missionaries  preached  almost  exclusively  to 
those  who  at  one  time  had  been  in  connection 
with  the  Church.  Gathering  these  together  and 
organizing  them  into  congregations  is  the  work 
of  the  missionaries,  and  in  doing  this  they  con- 
serve the  membership  of  the  Church. 

Home  Missions  render  the  Past  Labors  of  the 
Chuj'ch  Available. 

In  gathering  up  the  strayed  ones,  Home  Mis- 
sions render  the  past  labors  of  the  Church  avail- 
able. In  the  Kingdom  of  God  the  rule  is,  "Gather 
up  the  fragments,  that  nothing  may  be  lost." 
This  law  Home  Missions  observe.  Those  who  wan- 
dered away  had  been  the  object  of  the  Church's 
labors  and  love.  They  had  been  baptized,  they 
had  been  instructed  in  God's  Word,  they  had  been 
confirmed,  and  the  "bread  of  life"  had  been  broken 
unto  them.  It  would  have  been  an  everlasting 
disgrace  for  all  this  labor  and  love  to  have  been 
wasted.  But  when  it  seems  that  all  is  lost.  Home 
Missions  step  in  and  by  their  ministrations  ren- 
der these  past  labors  of  love  available.  Starting 
upon  the  basis  of  past  instruction  and  a  former 
religious  consciousness,  it  saves  these  people 
from  spiritual  ruin.  Appealing  to  former  train- 
ing and  experiences,  Home  Missions  establish 
the  Gospel  ministrations  in  their  midst.  In  doing 
this  they  not  only  save  these  people  but  conserve 
the  former  labors  of  the  Church  and  make  them 


THE    IMPORTANCE    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  49 

effective.    Home  Missions  render  the  past  labors 
of  the  Church  available. 

Serve  to  Extend  the  Church  into  New  and  Fresh 
Fields. 

The  tendency  of  the  Church  is  to  localize  and 
root  itself  into  the  very  soil.  Where  the  whole 
land  has  been  covered  this  is  a  good  thing,  for 
it  gives  permanency  to  the  Church.  But  where 
the  whole  land  has  not  been  reached  the  Church 
must  project  itself  into  new  fields.  Here  Home 
Missions  find  a  field.  The  missionaries  go  out  on 
the  frontier  and  proclaim  the  Gospel  of  salvation. 
Under  trees,  in  cabins,  in  barns,  in  roughly  built 
chapels  or  wherever  men  congregate,  they  preach 
the  tidings  of  salvation.  Wherever  there  are 
people  without  the  Church  they  enter.  In  the 
newer  sections  of  the  West,  in  depleted  sections  of 
the  East,  in  large  cities,  and  in  the  growing  towns 
Home  Missions  bring  the  Gospel  ministrations. 
The  motto  is,  "The  Church  must  be  planted." 
Home  Missions  saved  the  great  Northwest  to  the 
Union,  and  are  now  saving  the  people  of  the 
Northwest  to  Christ.  But  the  West  and  North- 
west are  not  the  only  Home  Mission  fields.  All 
over  this  land  there  are  waste  places  where  Home 
Missions  must  plant  the  church.  Into  these  fields 
Home  Missions  must  enter  and  labor  until  the 
Church  blooms  forth  as  the  rose  of  Sharon.  The 
progress  of  the  Church  in  this  land  has  been  the 
progress  of  Home  Mission  activity.    It  has  been 


50  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

estimated  that  from  four-fifths  to  nine-tenths  of 
the  evangelical  Churches  in  the  United  States  are 
of  Home  Mission  origin.  During  the  last  century 
the  membership  of  Protestant  Churches  in  this 
country  increased  on  an  average  no  less  than  three 
times  as  fast  as  the  population,  and  the  increase 
was  the  direct  result  of  Home  Mission  work.  In 
the  Lutheran  Church,  the  increase  in  communicant 
members  was  from  22,000  in  1800  to  over  2,500,- 
000  in  1913.  Its  proportionate  increase  has  been 
larger  in  the  last  decade  than  that  of  any  other 
Christian  denomination,  Protestant  or  Roman 
Catholic.  Such  results  are  due  to  its  great  Home 
Mission  work. 

Maintain  and  Increase  the  Means  of  the  Church. 

In  its  work  of  saving  mankind,  the  Church  must 
have  means.  Money  is  an  important  element  in 
advancing  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Although  the 
Church  does  not  compute  its  labors  in  money  val- 
ues, still,  without  money  it  is  impossible  to  carry 
on  the  work.  It  is  no  small  part  of  the  Church's 
work  to  secure  funds  with  which  to  extend  its 
influence.  Here  again  this  activity  is  the  hand- 
maiden of  the  Church.  By  its  labors  it  main- 
tains and  increases  the  means  of  the  Church. 
Every  new  mission  congregation  is  a  new  fountain 
of  supply  for  the  benevolent  causes  of  the  Church. 
While  every  other  cause  of  the  Church  is  import- 
ant and  ought  to  be  sustained,  yet  it  must  be  con- 
ceded that  Home  Mission  work  is  the  fundamental 


THE   IMPORTANCE   OF    HOME    MISSIONS  51 

cause  of  all  benevolent  work.  If  our  Church  will 
push  Home  Missions  and  make  them  first  and  suc- 
cessful, then  every  other  cause  will  have  a  broad 
and  strong  basis  on  which  to  operate.  If  Home 
Missions  are  slighted,  then  all  benevolent  work 
must  suffer. 

Home  Missions  not  only  increase  the  money 
revenues  of  the  Church,  but  they  increase  and 
strengthen  its  other  agencies.  Money  is  not  all. 
Workers  are  necessary,  and  Home  Missions  sup- 
ply workers.  As  the  Church  is  extended  at  home 
more  ministers  are  needed,  and  this  leads  to  the 
founding  and  enlargement  of  institutions  of  learn- 
ing for  the  preparation  and  training  of  the  work- 
men that  are  needed.  This  was  the  way  in  which 
many  of  our  seminaries  and  colleges  came  into 
existence.  The  Mission  cause  was  the  immediate 
occasion  that  called  them  into  being  and  supplied  a 
continual  incentive  for  their  better  equipment  and 
extension.  And  the  mission  congregations  have 
furnished  a  large  contingent  of  the  ministerial 
candidates.  In  like  manner  they  have  supplied 
and  continue  to  supply  both  men  and  money  for 
the  extension  ot  the  work  in  foreign  fields. 

The  Most  Economical  Branch  of  Service. 

The  importance  of  Home  Missions  can  also  be 
seen  in  this  that  it  is  the  most  economical  branch 
of  service  that  the  Church  can  operate.  Of  course 
it  takes  money  to  carry  on  the  work.  The  Church 
must  invest  much  in  Home  Missions.     But  the 


o2  LLTHEKAX    HOME   MISSIONS 

number  of  souls  gathered  into  the  fold  and  the 
amount  contributed  to  the  general  work  as  a  re- 
sult of  Home  Mission  endeavor  is  larger  than 
that  of  any  other  branch  of  church  work.  Usu- 
ally it  is  only  a  few  years  until  a  mission  becomes 
self-supporting  and  then  it  becomes  most  liberal 
in  its  gifts  to  the  general  work  of  the  Church.  This 
is  not  only  true  of  individual  congregations,  but 
it  is  true  of  whole  groups  of  them.  In  fact,  we 
might  lay  it  down  as  one  of  the  axioms  of  Home 
Mission  work,  that  to  help  a  mission  congrega- 
tion is  to  help  the  whole  cause  of  the  Kingdom, 
and  that  in  a  geometrical  ratio.  Mission  congre- 
gations pay  high  dividends  upon  the  money  in- 
vested in  them.  In  proof  of  this  we  cite  the 
experience  of  the  General  Synod.  "The  expen- 
diture of  $944,775.00  for  the  support  of  585  mis- 
sions, nearly  six  hundred  congregations,  during 
these  forty  years  of  the  Board's  history  repre- 
sents merely  the  investment  of  its  capital.  On 
the  basis  of  this  original  investment,  the  people 
who  were  gathered  into  these  missions,  even  while 
they  were  still  under  the  care  of  the  Board,  con- 
tributed a  round  five  million  dollars  for  church 
purposes,  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  which  found 
its  way  back  into  the  benevolent  treasuries  of 
the  General  Synod.  A  business  man  would  call 
that  kind  of  an  investment  a  bonanza.  But  that 
is  not  a  full  statement  of  the  account.  To  these 
five  million  dollars  must  be  added  many  millions 
more  which  have  been  contributed  by  these  mis- 


THE  IMPORTANCE   OF   HOME   MISSIONS  53 

sion  churches  after  they  have  reached  the  posi- 
tion of  self-support More  than  one-third 

of  the  entire  contributions  of  the  General  Synod 
last  year  must  be  credited  as  a  legitimate  return 
from  that  original  investment  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Board.  And  in  addition  to  these  large  finan- 
cial returns  there  stand  incalculable  spiritual  re- 
sults, the  real  end  of  all  Home  Mission  effort." 
These  same  results  have  been  equalled  in  every 
other  synod  in  the  country.  In  comparison  with 
Foreign  Missions,  Home  Missions  are  far  superior 
from  an  economical  point  of  view.  When  For- 
eign Missions  make  a  convert,  as  a  rule  he  be- 
comes a  charge  and  the  mission  must  in  some 
way  make  provision  for  his  livelyhood.  But  when 
Home  Missions  make  a  convert  he  at  once  adds 
strength  to  the  Church.  Instead  of  being  a  charge 
he  becomes  a  supporter  of  the  mission  and  of  all 
redemptive  agencies  of  the  Church.  Undoubted- 
ly Home  Mission  work  pays. 

Are  of  the  Greatest  Importance  ivhen  the  Church 
is  Scattered. 

Home  Missions  reach  their  highest  importance 
when  the  Church  has  been  scattered.  Rev.  Morris 
Officer  puts  tnis  truth  in  plain  words  when  he 
says:  "When  the  Church,  by  some  potent  agency 
from  without,  has  been  torn,  wasted  and  scat- 
tered, requiring  a  re-gathering  of  its  members, 
or  when  by  embracing  some  elements  foreign  to 
its  own  nature  it  has  been  convulsed  and  rent 


54  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

asunder  so  as  to  need  reorganization,  then  this 
branch  of  service  is  in  special  demand.  Or  when 
civil  society  itself  has  been  upheaved  from  its 
very  foundations,  and  cleft  and  tossed  into  chaos ; 
or  when  a  population  has  been  much  shifted  about 
and  its  movements  greatly  changed  and  reversed, 
so  as  to  require  readjustment,  then  especially 
should  the  Home  Mission  arm  of  the  church  be 
put  forth  in  strong  and  well  directed  efforts  to 
maintain  its  own  footing  amid  the  general  wreck 
and  to  settle  into  right  position  the  loosened  and 
floating  elements  of  society." 

In  this  respect  Home  Missions  have  rendered 
valuable  service  to  this  country.  Of  all  the  na- 
tions of  the  world  none  are  so  deeply  indebted 
to  Home  Missions  as  our  own.  To  this  agency 
of  the  Church  she  owes  practically  everything 
that  has  made  her  queen  of  the  nations.  A  little 
more  than  two  hundred  years  ago  the  population 
of  the  United  States  was  less  than  200,000  and 
confined  to  the  Atlantic  coast.  But  the  spirit  of 
adventure  was  "bred  in  the  bone"  of  this  people, 
and  soon  adventurers  like  Boone  and  Crawford 
began  to  lead  the  way  to  the  West.  After  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Stanvix  in  1768  a  perfect  stream 
of  hardy  pioneers  poured  through  the  defiles  of 
the  Alleghenys  and  began  to  take  up  the  rich 
farming  land  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  basins. 
Some  came  from  American  homes;  many  more 
came  from  lands  across  the  sea.  To  follow  these 
people  with  the  Gospel,  gather  them  into  regular 


THE   IMPORTANCE    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  55 

congregations,  and  hold  the  new  world  securely 
for  Christ  was  the  work  of  Home  Missions.  And 
no  great  undertaking  of  the  Church  was  ever  car- 
ried out  more  successfully.  The  story  of  the 
great  Northwest  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Mid- 
dle West.  When  the  settlers  came  pouring  into 
the  great  Northwest  the  Home  Missionary  came 
close  behind.  The  gathering  of  these  people  into 
the  Christian  Church  and  saving  this  part  of  our 
country  for  Christ  is  one  of  the  great  chapters  in 
the  history  of  our  nation.  Unpretentious  as  were 
these  home  missionaries  they  did  a  great  work 
for  this  land.  Our  country  owes  much  to  Home 
Missions. 

President  Cleveland  saw  the  importance  of 
Home  Missions  to  our  country  when  he  said:  "I 
desire  to  express  my  appreciation  of  the  privilege 
of  participating  in  this  conference  and  of  the  op- 
portunity thus  afforded  me  of  testifying  to  the 
value  and  usefulness  of  the  work  undertaken  by 
Home  Missions.  As  your  fellow-citizen,  interest- 
ed, I  hope,  in  all  things  that  deepen  the  religious 
sentiments  of  our  people  and  enlarge  Christian 
influence,  I  fully  realize  the  transcendent  import- 
ance of  this  agency  in  its  operations  upon  the 
hearts  of  men  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls. 
The  long  roster  of  those  who  have  been  led  into 
the  way  of  righteousness  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  our  Home  Missions  are  rich  trophies  of 
successful  endeavor.  But  it  is  not  only  as  your 
fellow-citizen,  but  as  the  chief  executive  officer 


56  I.UTHEBAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

of  your  government,  that  I  desire  to  speak,  for  I 
am  entirely  certain  that  I  serve  well  our  entire 
people,  whose  servant  I  am,  when  I  here  testify 
to  the  benefit  our  country  has  received  through 
Home  Missionary  effort,  and  when  I  join  you  in 
an  attempt  to  extend  and  strengthen  that  effort." 

The  Peculiar  Situation  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  this  Country. 

Home  Missions  are  more  important  to  the  Lu- 
theran Church  than  to  any  other  church  in  the 
land.  Here  a  new  chapter  in  the  world's  history 
is  being  written;  a  new  era  has  opened;  new 
forces  are  working.  Here  a  new  type  of  civiliza- 
tion is  being  formed,  and  in  God's  providence  the 
Lutheran  Church  is  destined  to  be  an  important 
factor  in  this  new  development.  The  peculiar 
situation  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country 
makes  it  possible  for  this  Church  to  be  such  an 
important  factor  in  its  future  development.  The 
Lutheran  Church  did  not  come  to  America 
through  love  of  gold,  lust  of  power,  or  fondness 
for  adventure.  It  was  driven  here  through  per- 
secutions. The  Dutch  of  New  York,  the  Pala- 
tines of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Salzburgers  of 
Georgia  prized  their  faith  above  worldly  posses- 
sions, and  the  price  they  paid  for  it  was  banish- 
ment from  home  and  country.  The  Lutheran 
Church  is  here  not  of  its  own  choice,  but  by  divine 
arrangement.  It  is  here  to  stay,  and  it  is  des- 
tined to  become  the  strongest  factor  in  evangeliz- 


THE   IMPOBTANCE   OF   HOME   MISSIONS  57 

ing  this  nation.  Dr.  H.  E.  Jacobs  says:  "Hither 
where  all  these  forces  are  centering,  God  has 
brought  hundreds  of  thousands  of  these  who  con- 
fess the  faith  of  Luther,  and  are  entrusted  with 
its  maintenance.  The  old  tree  has  been  trans- 
planted to  a  new  soil.  Separated  by  national  lines 
in  Europe,  and  by  still  narrower  boundaries  of 
petty  principalities,  each  with  its  own  state 
Church,  into  which  Germany  was  divided  until 
a  generation  ago,  here  they  blend  within  a  gen- 
eration or  two  into  one  body.  The  sole  bond 
which  unites  them  is  the  old  faith  which  was 
confessed  when  the  theses  were  fixed  on  the  doors 
of  the  Castle  Church  of  Wittenberg.  The  Lu- 
theran Church  in  America  stands  not  for  a  pro- 
vincial Lutheranism but  for  an  ecumenical 

Lutheranism  in  which  these  lines  which  divide 
Lutheranism  in  the  Old  World  vanish.  . .  .  Con- 
sidering then  the  place  which  Providence  has 
assigned  America  among  the  nations  of  the  world, 
and  the  place  He  has  given  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  America,  can  we  doubt  as  to  what  the  meaning 
of  our  peculiar  position  in  this  land  is?  Is  it 
not  to  affirm  that  the  truths  for  which  Luther 
stood  are  not  obsolete  or  antiquated,  but  just  as 
live  and  life-giving  as  when  in  his  youth  they 
silenced  opposition  and  won  men's  hearts."  We 
cannot  refrain  from  quoting  the  words  of  Pres- 
ident Roosevelt  in  this  connection.  "There  is  a 
peculiar  function  to  be  played  by  the  great  Lu- 
theran Church  in  the  United  States.     The  Lu- 

Lutheran   Hunu:  Mi!<sions.  5 


58  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

theran  Church  came  to  this  territory  which  is  now 
the  United  States  very  shortly  after  the  first  per- 
manent settlements  were  made  within  our  limits ; 
for  when  the  earliest  settlers  came  to  dwell  around 
the  mouth  of  the  Delaware  they  brought  the 
Lutheran  worship  with  them;  and  so  with  the 
earliest  German  settlers  who  came  to  Pennsyl- 
vania and  afterwards  to  New  York  and  the  moun- 
tainous regions  of  the  western  part  of  Virginia 
and  the  states  south  of  it.  From  that  day  to 
this  the  history  of  the  growth  in  population  of 
this  nation  has  consisted  largely,  in  some  respect 
mainly,  of  the  arrival  of  successive  waves  of  new 
comers  to  our  shores,  and  the  prime  duty  of  those 
already  in  the  land  is  to  see  that  their  progress 
and  development  are  shared  by  these  new  com- 
ers. It  is  a  serious  and  dangerous  thing  for  any 
man  to  tear  loose  from  the  soil,  from  the  region 
in  which  he  and  his  forbears  have  taken  root, 
and  to  be  transplanted  into  a  new  land.  He 
should  receive  all  possible  aid  in  that  new  land, 
and  the  aid  can  be  tendered  him  most  effectively 
by  those  who  can  appeal  to  him  on  the  grounds 
of  spiritual  kinship.  Therefore  the  Lutheran 
Church  can  do  most  in  helping  upwards  and  on- 
wards so  many  of  the  newcomers  to  our  shores, 
and  it  seems  to  me  that  it  should  be,  I  am  temp- 
ted to  say,  well  nigh  the  prime  duty  of  this 
Church  to  see  that  the  immigrant,  especially  the 
immigrant  of  Lutheran  faith  from  the  Old  World, 
who   comes  from   Scandinavia   or   Germany,   or 


THE  IMPORTANCE   OF   HOME   MISSIONS  59 

whether  he  belongs  to  one  of  the  Lutheran  coun- 
tries of  Finland,  or  Hungary,  or  Austria,  may  not 
be  suffered  to  drift  off  with  no  friendly  hand 
extended  to  him,  out  of  all  church  communion, 
away  from  all  the  influences  that  tend  towards 
safeguarding  and  uplifting  him,  and  that  he  find 
ready  at  hand  in  this  country  those  eager  to 
bring  him  into  fellowship  with  the  existing  bod- 
ies. The  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country  is  a 
very  great  power.  It  is  destined  to  be  one  of 
the  two  or  three  greatest  churches  and  most  im- 
portant national  churches  in  the  United  States, 
one  of  the  two  or  three  churches  distinctly  Amer- 
ican, among  the  forces  that  are  to  tell  for  making 
this  great  country  even  greater  in  the  near  fu- 
ture. Therefore,  a  peculiar  load  of  responsibil- 
ity rests  upon  the  members  of  this  Church." 

The  Great  Opportunity  for  Home  Mission  Work 
by  the  Lutheran  Church. 

There  are  crises  in  the  affairs  of  the  churches 
as  in  those  of  nations  and  individuals,  times  when 
the  opportunity  is  ripe,  times  when  "a  great  door 
and  effectual"  stands  wide  open.  To-day  the  Lu- 
theran Church  in  America  stands  face  to  face 
with  such  a  crisis.  God  appeals  to  it  by  every 
consideration  that  is  calculated  to  move  men  to 
enthusiasm  to  follow  after  and  care  for  its  chil- 
dren. They  have  been  coming  like  a  flood.  These 
children  are  becoming  the  men  and  women  who 
work  the  farms,  fill  the  shops,  conduct  the  trade, 


60  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

control  the  wealth,  shape  the  politics,  mould  the 
society  and  support  the  churches  in  new  com- 
munities which  are  springing  up  with  marvel- 
ous rapidity  in  every  part  of  our  newer  states. 
They  are  Lutheran  now  and  Lutheran  they  desire 
to  remain.  Did  God  ever  offer  a  Church  an  op- 
portunity fraught  with  greater  promise?  It  is 
no  exaggeration  to  say  that  He  has  placed  be- 
fore us  the  possibility  of  becoming  the  first,  both 
in  number  and  influence,  among  the  Protestant 
denominations  of  this  land. 

The  Lutheran  Church  is  waking  up  to  its  won- 
derful opportunities.  It  is  becoming  conscious  of 
its  numbers  and  strength.  There  are  in  Amer- 
ica 13,000,000  citizens  of  Lutheran  stock.  There 
are  2,250,000  communicants.  Gathered  in  our 
congregations  and  Sunday-schools  are  about  5,- 
000,000  souls.  What  a  force!  Canada  is  becom- 
ing an  inviting  Home  Mission  field  white  unto 
the  harvest.  The  United  States  from  the  lakes 
to  the  gulf,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific, 
is  rich  with  abounding  opportunities  for  Lu- 
theran Home  Missions.  There  are  about  50,000- 
000  of  unchurched  Americans  that  need  our  im- 
mediate care.  Millions  are  coming  to  America 
in  a  constant  stream  of  immigration  from  the 
Lutheran  lands  of  Europe.  They  need  and  de- 
serve our  aid  to  gather  them  into  the  church  of 
their  birth. 

No  Church  in  this  land  has  a  tithe  of  the  res- 
ponsibility that  is  ours.    Opportunities  for  Home 


THE   IMPORTANCE    OF    HOME    AIISSIO.XS  61 

Mission  work  are  phenomenal.  Our  field  stretch- 
es from  ocean  to  ocean,  from  northern  lakes  to 
southern  gulf.  The  great  cities  of  the  East  con- 
tain hosts  of  unchurched  Lutherans  who  rightly 
look  to  us  for  ministrations  of  the  Gospel.  The 
West  might  almost  be  denominated  Lutheran 
home  mission  territory.  Some  time  ago  a  leader 
in  the  great  Seminary  Missionary  Movement 
said:  "The  Lutheran  Church  in  America  has  a 
work  that  no  other  church  can  do,  and  an  oppor- 
tunity unparallelled  and  beyond  estimation."  Our 
wide  awake  neighbors  say:  "If  only  the  Luther- 
an Church  knew  its  opportunity,  it  could  soon 
lead  the  churches  of  this  country  in  numbers." 

Dr.  G.  W.  Sandt,  editor  of  "The  Lutheran," 
is  author  of  the  statement:  "There  are  more  lost 
or  unchurched  Lutherans  in  New  York  and  Chi- 
cago than  all  the  Lutherans  in  any  city  of  Ger- 
many or  Scandinavia,  if  we  except  Berlin.  There 
are  more  people  of  German  lineage  in  America 
to-day  than  people  from  the  British  Empire. 
England  furnished  America  with  her  language 
and  her  laws;  but  Germany  and  Scandinavia  are 
furnishing  the  citizens.  Take  the  German  blood 
out  of  the  arteries  of  the  two  greatest  states  of 
the  Union ;  then  consider  what  you  have  left !  In 
New  York  City  alone  there  is  a  German  city  of 
the  size  of  Hamburg,  and  two-thirds  of  them  are 
of  Lutheran  extraction.  In  Chicago  there  is  a 
Scandinavian  city  of  the  size  of  Stockholm,  and 
in  the  country  there  are  3,000,000  of  these  fair- 


62  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

haired  and  sturdy  sons  of  the  North.  One-half 
of  them  are  in  the  Lutheran  fold,  and  the  other 
half  are  either  in  the  denominations  or  out  in 
the  world.  Take  the  people  of  Germany  and  Scan- 
dinavia, and  hence  chiefly  of  Lutheran  extrac- 
tion, out  of  the  great  Mississippi  basin,  and  you 
remove  fully  one-half  of  the  clergy,  the  doctors, 
the  lawyers,  the  legislators,  the  teachers,  the  pu- 
pils, the  farmers,  the  merchants,  the  mechanics 
and  all  that  gives  that  great  section  of  our  coun- 
try its  chief  stability  and  strength.  While  New 
England  Puritans  and  Puritanism  are  fast  becom- 
ing a  memory,  Germans  and  Scandinavians  with 
their  large  families  are  filling  the  depleted  ranks 
and  furnishing  a  fresh  background  for  New  Eng- 
land's future  history.  If  the  white  man's  bur- 
dens are  the  oppressed  rrces  of  the  earth,  the 
Lutheran  Church's  burden  in  this  country  is  her 
unchurched  population." 

That  the  opportunity  is  before  the  Church  no 
one  denies.  The  question  is,  will  the  Church 
rise  to  the  occasion,  sieze  the  opportunity  and 
make  the  most  of  it?  Is  the  Church  ready  to 
discharge  the  obligations  God  has  laid  upon  it? 
Is  the  Church  ready  to  make  the  sacrifices  neces- 
sary to  the  discharge  of  its  great  home  mission 
opportunity?  The  sacrifices  God  demands  of  his 
people  are  different  in  different  periods  of  the 
Church's  development.  To  the  present  genera- 
tion of  Lutherans  in  this  country  He  has  com- 
mitted the  work  of    Home    Missions,    a     work 


THE   IMPORTANCE    OF   HOME   MISSIONS  63 

fraught  with  great  sacrifices,  but  holding  out 
also  the  assurance  of  a  glorious  recompense. 
Viewed  simply  as  a  matter  of  policy  there  is 
no  channel  into  which  the  energies  of  our  Church 
could  be  turned  that  would  yield  such  abundant 
and  permanent  fruits.  Does  the  Church  realize 
its  opportunity  and  attendant  responsibility? 
Where  is  the  Lutheran  who  is  not  smitten  with 
shame  when  he  contrasts  the  magnitude  of  the 
work  set  before  the  Church  with  the  poverty  of 
our  means  and  the  feebleness  of  our  efforts?  On 
every  hand  we  are  confronted  by  the  humiliating 
fact  that  our  Church  has  undertaken  but  little 
and  often  wrought  without  wisdom. 

One  of  the  great  drawbacks  to  the  work  has 
been  synodical  rivalry.  Again  and  again  we  have 
been  confronted  with  the  deplorable  spectacle  of 
one  section  bending  all  its  energies  to  pull  down 
what  another  section  was  laboring  to  build  up. 
Shall  this  state  of  affairs  continue?  Does  the 
Lutheran  Church  intend  to  take  hold  of  its  Home 
Mission  opportunity  with  determination  and  ser- 
iousness? The  answer  must  be  given  soon.  If 
we  would  discharge  the  obligation  God  has  im- 
posed upon  us,  we  must  seek  to  awaken  a  deeper 
and  more  intelligent  interest  among  the  laity.  We 
want  more  of  that  enthusiasm  for  Home  Missions 
that  can  make  sacrifices.  We  must  stop  quarrel- 
ing among  ourselves  and  seek  to  unite  our  forces 
upon  some  basis  that  will  admit  of  hearty  co- 
operation.    The  synod  that  dares  interpose  ob- 


64  T.l'THKIi.VN     HOMK    MISSIONS 

stacles,  or  lend  only  a  half-hearted  assistance, 
ought  to  die,  and  every  true  Lutheran,  whether 
minister  or  lajman,  ought  to  help  kill  it. 

The  Great  Responsibility  which  Rests  upon  the 
Church. 

Our  opportunities  for  Home  Mission  work 
bring  with  them  corresponding  responsibilities. 
Does  the  Church  realize  this  responsibility  ?  And 
what  are  we  doing  to  meet  it  ?  There  is  no  other 
Church  in  this  land  with  a  like  opportunity,  and 
there  is  no  Church  upon  which  God  has  laid  great- 
er responsibility.  Dr.  J.  M.  Reimensnyder  sums 
up  the  responsibility  of  the  Church  in  these 
words:  "This  work  (Home  Missions)  presents 
itself  with  greatly  increased  responsibility  upon 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 

First.  She  has  the  greatest  responsibility  be- 
cause she  is  the  mother  Church  of  the  Protestant 
Reformation,  and  from  her  founders  came  the 
great  Magna  Charta  of  Christian  faith  and  liber- 
ty: The  Augsburg  Confession,  the  basis  of  the 
creeds  of  Christendom  and  of  civilization. 

Second.  Because  she  is  largely  the  Church  of 
the  Fatherland  and  the  countries  from  which  so 
many  of  the  immigrants  come.  She  is  joined  to 
them  by  the  ties  of  nativity  and  of  historic  faith. 

Third.  Because  no  other  Church  can  carry  on 
the  work  in  more  than  two  or  three  languages, 
whilst  the  Lutheran  Church  is  one  of  many 
tongues,  doing  home  missionary  work  in  this 
country  in  some  nineteen  languages. 


THE    IMPORTANCE    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  65 

And  finally.  Because  of  her  purity  of  faith 
and  her  noble  confession,  her  Biblical  foundation 
and  her  beauty  and  flexibility  of  worship,  she  is 
best  adapted  to  the  wants  of  a  diversified  popu- 
lation. 

Some  of  the  most  able  theologians  of  other 
Churches  have  openly  said  that  if  there  is  ever  to 
be  a  union  of  the  branches  of  the  Church  of  Christ 
it  will  have  to  be  upon  the  basis  of  the  great 
Lutheran  Confessions.  They  are  the  most  clearly 
Biblical  and  free  from  human  dogma  or  method. 
These  reasons  as  well  as  many  others  already 
point  to  the  Lutheran  Church  as  the  great  agent 
in  this  country  for  home  missionary  labor." 

Our  Church  has  a  great  mission  to  perform  in 
this  country,  and  the  call  is  most  pressing  and 
urgent  to  the  young  men  in  our  schools.  To  them 
the  call  comes  to  shoulder  the  responsibility  and 
endure  hardships  as  faithful  soldiers. 

But  the  call  is  not  only  to  the  candidates  for 
the  ministry,  but  to  every  member  of  the  Church. 
The  laymen  are  called  on  to  come  forward  with 
the  means  God  has  given  them  and  second  the 
efforts  of  God's  ambassador,  so  that  the  work 
be  not  hindered  nor  the  cause  suffered  to  languish 
for  want  of  support.  The  call  for  Home  Mission 
work  is  coming  from  every  quarter.  Thousands 
are  crying  to  the  Lutheran  Church  for  the  bread 
of  life.  They  are  stretching  pleading  hands.  They 
are  asking  for  pastors  to  come  and  feed  them 
with  knowledge  and  understanding.    Our  Church 


K 


G6  THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS 

dare  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  these  pleadings.  We 
have  the  men  and  we  have  the  means.  We  must 
qualify  the  one  and  consecrate  the  other.  There 
must  be  no  holding  back  on  the  part  of  those 
who  have  talents,  nor  on  the  part  of  those  who 
have  means.  A  high  responsibility  and  a  holy 
mission  is  before  the  Church.  May  we  not  hope 
that  it  will  push  itself  to  the  front  of  the  Lord's 
embattling  hosts  and  maintain  its  place  in  Home 
Mission  work?  The  Church  is  waking  up.  The 
day  of  victory  is  not  far  distant. 

The  Weakening  of  the  Revival  System. 

Another  thing  which  makes  Home  Missions  so 
important  to  the  Lutheran  Church  is  the  weak- 
ening of  the  other  denominations  through  the 
failure  of  the  revival  system  and  the  baneful 
influence  of  destructive  Higher  Criticism.  It  was 
Dr.  G.  W.  Sandt  who  said,  "We  need  not  detract 
from  what  other  communions  have  done  in  this 
country  to  save  souls,  to  combat  public  evils,  to 
create  a  wholesome  moral  and  religious  sentiment 
among  the  people.  Their  zeal  and  devotion,  their 
enthusiasm  and  moral  earnestness,  their  alertness 
and  resourcefulness,  and  the  practical  wisdom 
with  which  they  discern  the  signs  of  the  times 
and  keep  in  touch  with  them,  have  made  them 
a  religious  and  ethical  force  in  this  country  for 
which  we  may  all  thank  God ;  but  they  are  almost 
without  exception  losing  their  hold  on  the  two 
great  Reformation  principles  to  which  they  owe 


THE   IMPORTANCE   OF   HOME   MISSIONS  67 

their  existence.  They  are  permitting  teachers 
in  their  colleges  and  seminaries  to  weaken  those 
pillars ;  they  are  permitting  many  of  their  preach- 
ers to  substitute  newspaper  themes  for  texts  of 
Scripture,  and  ethics  and  sociology  for  the  Gos- 
pel; they  are  helping  to  give  currency  to  one  of 
the  most  pernicious  heresies  of  the  times,  that 
it  makes  no  difference  what  a  man  believes  only 
so  that  he  lives  right — as  if  you  could  cut  an 
apple  blossom  from  off  its  stem  and  expect  it  to 
bear  fruit.  They  are  giving  their  consent  more 
and  more  to  a  mutilated  Bible  and  eviscerated 
Gospel.  They  are  permitting  some  of  their  Deli- 
lahs  to  take  their  critical  scissors  and  shear  the 
Church's  doctrinal  power  from  off  its  head.  Are 
our  people  aware  of  the  fact  that  outside  of  our 
own  communion  the  air  is  filled  with  anathemas 
against  creeds,  as  if  they  were  the  Church's  cry- 
ing evils,  and  with  misty,  hazy,  conflicting  opin- 
ions on  those  very  doctrines  and  principles  to 
which  the  Reformation  owes  its  life?" 

"What  America  needs  to-day  above  all  else  is 
a  redemptive  message  that  has  the  ring  of  certi- 
tude about  it.  It  was  Goethe  who  said:  'Give 
me  your  convictions,  I  have  doubts  enough  of 
my  own.'  What  the  men  and  women  of  our 
country  want  when  they  sit  in  their  pews  is  a 
sure  message  that  has  a  'Thus  saith  the  Lord' 
affixed  to  it.  This  message  the  Lutheran  Church 
has;  what  it  needs  is  the  prophetic  gift  in  larger 
measure  to  make  it  burn  in  the  hearts  of  men. 


08  LVTHEKAX    HOME    MISSIONS 

She  is  to-day  one  of  the  very  few  communions  in 
this  country  that  gives  a  clear  and  unanimous 
testimony  concerning  the  Scriptures,  that  believes 
the  Bible  to  be  the  same  infallible  rule  of  faith 
it  was  intended  to  be ;  that  teaches  the  exceeding 
sinfulness  of  sin  and  the  need  of  pardon  through 
an  all-sufficient  atonement.  She  proclaims  a 
joyous,  hopeful  faith.  She  finds  no  room  in  her 
creed  for  the  theories  and  speculations  of  men, 
but  disowns  all  man-made  schemes  of  salvation 
and  places  her  sole  reliance  on  the  Word.  With 
that  Word  as  her  guide  she  walks  by  faith  and 
not  by  sight.  She  does  not  lay  the  great  stress 
on  a  certain  form  of  organization  or  a  certain 
mode  of  worship,  or  a  particular  mode  of  bap- 
tism, or  a  special  method  of  conversion,  but  with 
the  doctrine  of  the  Person  and  Work  of  Christ 
as  her  center  she  looks  out  upon  the  whole  and 
makes  the  Scriptures  an  organism  with  all  parts 
properly  and  vitally  related.  That  is  why  she 
has  been  recognized  as  the  Church  of  Theologi- 
ans, and  why  so  eminent  an  authority  as  Dr. 
Schaff  affirmed,  that  if  Protestantism  was  ever 
to  be  reunited,  it  would  be  on  the  basis  of  the 
Augsburg  Confession.  After  the  doctrinal  libe- 
ralism which  now  floats  like  a  bubble  in  the  air 
shall  have  burst,  our  Lutheran  Church,  if  she 
remains  true  to  her  heritage,  will  rise  more 
grandly  than  ever,  for  in  not  one  of  her  twenty- 
three  seminaries,  thirty-nine  colleges  and  forty- 
two  academies  is  there  room  for  a  single  profes- 


THE  IMPORTANCE   OF   HOME   MISSIONS  69 

sor  who  opposes  her  faith.  Her  pulpits  ring  with 
a  definite  message.  She  feeds  her  people  on  the 
milk  and  meat  of  the  Gospel  and  not  on  a  socio- 
logical and  ethical  hodge-podge.  Her  worship  is 
as  beautiful  as  it  is  Scriptural,  for  it  is  the  effer- 
vescence of  her  faith.  She  protests  when  it  be- 
comes automatic,  artificial,  or  spectacular.  The 
value  of  her  liturgy  is  not  in  the  rapidity  with 
which  it  can  be  rushed  through,  nor  does  the 
value  of  her  prayers  consist  in  the  number  of 
times  they  are  said.  In  fact,  she  does  not  believe 
in  saying  prayers ;  she  believes  in  praying  them. 
When  she  undertakes  any  activity,  she  sees  to  it 
that  it  is  safely  lodged  in  her  principles  and  does 
not  move  by  fits  and  starts  to  repent  of  it  after- 
wards. Whatever  weakness  and  shortcoming  this 
Church  still  has,  they  are  not  because  of  her  fidel- 
ity to  her  great  doctrines,  but  in  spite  of  it,  or 
for  lack  of  it.  While  others  are  driven  hither  and 
thither  on  the  doctrinal  seas,  she  is  pinned  fast 
to  her  safe  and  sure  anchorage.  One  of  the 
very  brightest  lights  in  a  large  communion  once 
(in  effect)  said  to  a  Lutheran,  'When  my  Church 
with  its  fitful  and  unstable  anchorage  goes  on 
the  rocks,  I'll  take  refuge  in  the  Lutheran  ship.' 

"We  say  all  this  not  in  a  boastful  spirit,  but  be- 
cause we  are  persuaded  that  the  Reformation 
Church  stands  on  solid  Scriptural  ground  from 
which  she  will  not  be  dislodged  in  America,  save 
by  her  own  treason.  After  others  have  been 
groping  about  in  the  fog  of  creedless  uncertainty. 


70  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

it  may  be  her  privilege  to  call  the  disintegrating 
Protestants  back  to  the  old  evangelical  paths  and 
say :  'This  is  the  way ;  walk  ye  in  it.'  We  doubt- 
less have  our  sins  and  shortcomings  as  a  Church, 
and  were  that  to  be  our  theme,  we  could  paint 
a  picture  whose  colors  would  not  seem  very 
bright.  But  we  need  to  be  made  conscious  of  our 
Church's  mission  in  America.  Our  usefulness  as 
a  Church  depends  in  large  measure  upon  this 
consciousness.  If  that  be  feeble,  our  influence 
will  be  feeble ;  if  that  be  strong,  our  influence  will 
be  strong.  Certain  it  is  that  God  has  set  before 
our  Church  a  great  open  door,  and  placed  upon 
it  a  solemn  and  weighty  responsibility.  Will  the 
Church  enter  that  door?  Will  it  assume  that 
responsibility?  Let  Isaiah's  call  to  captive  Israel 
ring  in  our  ears  and  rouse  us  to  new  hope  and 
zeal :  'Awake !  Put  on  thy  strength,  0  Zion !  Put 
on  thy  beautiful  garments,  0  Jerusalem !'  " 


CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Field  of  Home  Missions. 


The  Country  as  a  Whole. 

In  His  wise  providence  God  has  placed  our 
country  in  the  midst  of  the  modern  world.  To 
our  east  is  Europe  with  her  developed  resources 
and  overflowing  population,  and  at  our  west  is 
the  Orient  with  her  teeming  millions.  Between 
these  two,  in  the  temperate  zone,  God  has  placed 
America,  and  He  has  given  her  the  continent  from 
ocean  to  ocean.  We  have  a  most  invigorating 
climate  and  a  people  known  the  world  around  for 
activity  and  progress.  Our  resources  are  unlim- 
ited and  our  development  has  been  phenomenal. 
There  has  never  been  a  nation  which  made  such 
rapid  progress  as  our  own.  In  this  favored  land, 
among  this  active  people  God  has  planted  the  Lu- 
theran Church  and  has  given  to  it  the  greatest 
Home  Missionary  opportunity  of  the  ages.  To 
no  other  Church  has  He  given  such  a  field.    Will 


72  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

the  Church  occupy  this  field?  Will  it  rise  to  the 
high  sense  of  responsibility  and  take  this  nation 
for  Christ? 

The  rise  and  development  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  preeminently  fits  it  for  this  task.  It  has 
always  held  a  unique  position  among  the  Chris- 
tian forces.  Being  the  mother  of  Protestantism 
it  has  always  been  a  Church  of  many  tongues. 
Its  ability  to  use  many  languages  has  ever  been 
its  missionary  opportunity,  and  no  doubt  will 
prove  to  be  the  Home  Missionary  opportunity  in 
this  land.  To  the  Lutheran  Church  more  than 
any  other  Church  the  "field  is  the  world."  It  has 
never  been  a  Church  of  the  classes,  but  has  always 
been  the  Church  of  the  masses,  and  its  commis- 
sion in  this  land  is  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  all 
people.  The  field  of  Lutheran  Home  Missions 
is  co-extensive  with  the  nation.  Wherever  the 
stars  and  stripes  waive  there  the  Lutheran  Church 
finds  a  field  for  missionary  endeavor.  Being  the 
one  Church  which  has  remained  true  to  the  doc- 
trines of  God's  Word,  not  having  been  tainted 
by  rationalism,  nor  disturbed  by  destructive 
Higher  Criticism,  God  has  given  to  it  this  country 
as  its  field  of  operation  and  has  commanded  it 
to  go  up  and  possess  the  land.  Undoubtedly  the 
whole  land  lies  open,  and  if  our  Church  is  to 
enjoy  the  continued  favor  of  God  it  must  rise  to 
that  high  sense  of  responsibility  which  aims  to 
take  the  whole  land.  The  vison  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  must  find  no  horizon  until  the  whole  con- 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  73 

tinent  is  scanned.  This  entire  broad  land  is  Lu- 
theran Home  Mission  territory.  The  frontier,  the 
farming  district,  the  country  village,  the  inland 
towns,  and  the  great  cities  are  all  fields  for  our 
missionary  endeavor.  To  neglect  any  one  of  these 
would  be  fatal  folly. 

Some  conception  of  the  vast  magnitude  of  our 
field  as  a  whole  can  be  gained  from  the  following 
words  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Josiah  Strong:  "Of 
our  fifty-one  states  and  territories  twenty-seven 
are  each  larger  than  all  England,  while  our  entire 
territory  would  contain  England  sixty-nine  times. 
Ten  of  our  states  and  territories  are  each  larger 
than  England,  Wales,  and  Scotlnad,  while  five 
are  each  larger  than  the  United  Kingdom  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  A  German  newspa- 
per points  out  the  fact  that  a  person  may  walk 
through  seven  German  states  in  seven  hours. 
Thirteen  of  the  smaller  German  states  might  all 
find  room  in  our  Connecticut,  and  Connecticut 
might  be  laid  down  in  the  state  of  Colorado  a 
score  of  times;  and  Montana  is  larger  than  Col- 
orado by  42,000  square  miles.  Make  Montana 
the  Mecca  of  the  world.  Gather  into  it  the  125,- 
000,000  of  North  and  South  America,  the  380,- 
000,000  of  Europe,  the  850,000,000  of  Asia,  the 
dwellers  in  the  islands  of  the  sea, — in  short,  near- 
ly 1,500,000,000  of  mankind,  and  when  we  have 
gathered  within  the  bounds  of  this  one  state  the 
entire  human  family  there  will  be  but  fifteen  souls 
to  each  acre.     California    is    larger   than    Mon- 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  6 


74  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

tana  by  12,000  square  miles.  Reference  has  been 
made  to  the  homes  of  the  three  great  races  among 
the  ancients.  Italy,  Greece,  and  Palestine  might 
all  be  gathered  into  California  and  then  have  am- 
ple room  for  a  fair-sized  kingdom.  And  Texas 
is  larger  than  California  by  107,000  square  miles. 
Lay  Texas  on  Europe  and  it  might  be  placed  so 
as  to  include  the  capitals  of  England,  France,  Bel- 
gium, Switzerland,  Germany,  and  Austria." 

However  interesting  a  general  survey  of  the 
land  may  be,  that  would  not  be  adequate  for  our 
study  of  the  field  of  Lutheran  Home  Missions. 
Let  us  turn  to  the  various  different  sections  of 
the  country  and  examine  each  and  find  out  its 
possibilties  as  missionary  territory. 

The  East. 

The  East  has  always  been  Lutheran  territory. 
On  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Delaware 
our  forefathers  first  planted  our  ensign,  preached 
our  faith  and  built  our  churches.  Here  the 
Church  passed  through  its  early  struggles  and 
here  it  established  itself  permanently.  In  Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland,  and  New  York  stand  the 
mother  churches  of  Lutheranism,  and  from  thence 
went  forth  the  first  Home  Missionaries.  Although 
Lutheranism  was  early  planted  in  the  East,  the 
East  still  remains  fertile  Home  Missionary  ter- 
ritory. Missionary  work  here  brings  large  re- 
turns. Work  in  the  older  sections  is  still  very 
successful.    While  in  many  sections  the  revivalis- 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MIS.SIONS  75 

tic  denominations  have  "burnt  the  field"  there  is 
no  "burnt"  territory  for  the  Lutheran  Church. 
The  older  Lutheranism  becomes,  the  deeper  it 
roots  itself  into  the  soil  and  the  sturdier  it 
grows.  The  Pennsylvania  Ministerium,  the  old- 
est synod  in  this  country,  is  most  energetic  in 
Home  Mission  work  and  finds  its  own  territory  a 
most  fruitful  field.  There  is  no  such  a  thing  as 
unfruitful  territory  even  in  the  oldest  sections 
of  the  East.  Some  one  has  said :  "The  most  prom- 
ising field  now  for  home  missionary  work  is  in 
the  towns  and  cities  of  our  Eastern  states.  We 
have  more  real  Lutheran  material  on  the  ground, 
and  our  growth  is  more  rapid  and  sure.  The 
contingencies  are  not  so  great.  The  towns  are 
not  of  such  ephemeral  growth.  Permanency  is 
their  general  character.  We  ought  not  to  make 
less  effort  in  the  great  West,  but  we  ought  to 
make  more  effort  in  the  East.  We  ought  to 
have  a  missionary  in  every  city  in  Ohio,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Maryland." 

Speaking  of  the  East  as  Home  Missionary  ter- 
ritory. Rev.  Ezra  K.  Bell  says:  "The  older  cities 
of  the  East  present  fields  of  richness  beyond  es- 
timation. In  my  own  city  our  Lutheran  churches 
have  so  multiplied  that  to-day  they  rank  third,  if 
not  second  among  the  denominations.  Some  of 
you  remember  when  your  Church  in  Baltimore 
was  scarcely  known,  when  our  people  were  often 
asked  who  Lutherans  were.  But  you  may  live 
to  see  the  day  when  our  Church  will  take  the  first 


76  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

place  in  members  and  religious  power  in  the  Mon- 
umental City.  We  are  establishing  churches 
where  other  denominations  have  failed.  And 
what  is  true  of  Baltimore  is  true  of  other  eastern 
cities.  We  can  plan  churches  in  almost  any  of 
them  with  assurance  of  success." 

What  is  true  of  Batlimore  is  true  of  New  York 
City.  Here  our  Lutheran  Church  holds  second 
place  among  the  Protestant  bodies,  and  in  this 
city  we  find  one  of  our  richest  fields  for  Home 
Mission  work. 

In  recent  years  Buffalo  has  proven  to  be  virgin 
soil  for  Lutheran  Home  Missions.  And  so  we 
might  go  on  from  state  to  state  and  from  city 
to  city  in  the  East  and  show  that  each  has  won- 
derful possibilties  for  Lutheran  Home  Missions. 
Home  Mission  work  in  the  East  will  bring  forth 
a  hundred  fold. 

New  England. 

New  England  is  the  home  of  the  Puritan 
churches.  Here  Congregationalism,  Presbyter- 
ianism,  and  Episcopalianism  planted  churches  in 
the  first  colonies  and  here  they  flourished.  These 
denominations  came  with  the  Pilgrims,  Puritans, 
and  Cavaliers,  and  New  England  became  their 
stronghold.  But  Puritan  New  England  is  chang- 
ing. Much  of  the  original  stock  has  migrated  to 
the  West,  many  of  the  remaining  old  families  are 
dying  out  and  the  Church  has  been  torn  from 
its  old  moorings  by  philosophical  rationalism  and 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  77 

ethical  culture.  The  religious  situation  of  the 
Puritan  Churches  is  deplorable  indeed.  We  quote 
the  words  of  Dr.  John  A.  W.  Haas,  president  of 
Muhlenburg  College:  "Now  in  general,  through- 
out New  England,  a  large  influence  is  exerted  by 
the  Unitarian  trend.  It  does  not  wear  the  old 
garb  of  a  Channing,  nor  show  his  devotion  and 
power.  It  lives  upon  modern  critical  attempts 
in  its  pulpit  iiinistrations.  The  Congregational 
Church,  which  includes  men  of  every  type,  is 
being  served  now  more  and  more  by  men  who 
have  been  educated  according  to  the  ideals  of 
Harvard  and  Yale.  There  is  no  denial  of  the 
divine  element,  but  the  human  character  of  Chris- 
tianity, the  evolution  of  the  Christ  and  Chris- 
tendom, and  the  social  aspect  of  religion  are 
emphasized.  The  poets  and  novelists  are  quoted 
almost  as  much  as  the  Bible.  The  religious  life 
is  painted  in  its  subjective  psychological  aspect. 
The  moral  endeavor  is  put  into  the  center.  The 
sacrifice  of  Jesus  is  not  his  propitiatory  atone- 
ment. It  serves  only  as  an  example  of  love  and 
a  moral  stimulus.  The  religious  consciousness  is 
larger  as  a  determinative  force  than  the  Bible. 
And  this  religious  consciousness  is  not  the  pure 
product  of  the  Divine  Word,  but  it  is  largely  a 
philosophical  enthusiasm  clothed  in  religious  ter- 
minology. The  expression  of  this  tendency  is 
not  on  a  high  plane.  It  varies  in  the  average 
minister  of  average  talent. 

The  Episcopal  Church  in  many  places  also  ex- 


78  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

hibits  the  same  influence.  Its  broadness  has  little 
of  the  geniality  and  orthodox  coloring  of  a  Phil- 
lips Brooks.  In  contradiction  with  its  own 
prayer-book,  that  sounds  the  fundamental  truths 
of  Christianity  in  its  collects  and  prayers,  in  op- 
position to  its  hymnal,  the  Episcopal  Church, 
through  its  pulpits,  voices  a  rationalism  as  bold 
as  Unitarianism.  Rationalistic  theories,  which 
lately  appeared  in  German  publications  as  a  rep- 
etition of  old  rationalism,  I  have  heard  given  in 
boldest  form  to  the  people. 

In  consequence  of  this  position,  which  is  little 
modified  by  the  occasionally  more  evangelical  tone 
of  Methodist  and  Baptist  Churches,  the  pew  has 
become  largely  indifferent.  With  all  the  culture 
there  is  no  religious  earnestness.  The  religious 
convictions  are  very  indefinite.  The  indifference 
and  carelessness  in  relation  to  the  Church  are 
more  marked  than  in  other  parts  of  our  country. 
Emersonianism  has  percolated  through  from  the 
pulpit  to  the  people.  It  has,  however,  none  of 
Emerson's  pantheistic  enthusiasm.  With  the  ave- 
rage man  and  woman  it  is  the  negative  of  the 
old.  The  new  is  an  intellectual  humanitarianism 
without  power  and  life.  It  is  interesting  to  trace 
the  connection  of  this  rationalism  with  the  ratio- 
nalism of  Calvin.  The  home  of  Edwards,  the 
center  of  the  philosophizing  about  divine  myster- 
ies, has  become  the  place  of  a  philosophy  without 
mystery  and  power." 

However,   into  cultured   New    England    with 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  79 

these  lowering  religious  tendencies  Lutheran  im- 
migrants are  pouring  by  the  thousands.  In  late 
years  Boston  has  become  a  port  of  entry  for 
thousands  of  Scandinavians.  The  land  of  Cotton 
Mather  and  Jonathan  Edwards  is  becoming  fer- 
tile territory  for  Lutheran  Home  Missions.  Swed- 
ish immigration  into  New  England  has  been  very 
great,  and  the  Augustana  Synod  has  not  been 
slack  in  looking  after  these  Swedish  brethren  and 
in  gathering  them  into  congregations.  The  Danes 
and  Norwegians,  and  also  the  Germans,  have  many 
countrymen  in  these  Yankee  states,  and  they  find 
work  there  very  fruitful.  A  door  is  being  opened 
up  for  the  Lutheran  Church  in  New  England.  The 
English  speaking  portion  of  our  Church  has  dis- 
covered that  New  England  is  virgin  territory  for 
Home  Missions.  A  new  era  is  dawning  in  New 
England.  The  sceptre  is  departing  from  Puritan- 
ism. To  the  Lutheran  Church  shall  be  the  gather- 
ing of  the  people.  Some  day  a  new  history  of 
New  England  shall  be  written,  and  this  history 
will  show  that  the  religious  development  of  that 
country  where  Pilgrim  and  Puritan  first  found 
a  home  has  been  finally  determined  by  those  who 
hold  to  the  truths  of  the  Augsburg  Confession. 
New  England  is  ripe  unto  the  harvest  for  Luther- 
an Home  Missions. 

The  East  North  Central  Division. 

In  a  map  before  us  we  find  the  states  of  the 
Union  grouped  into  nine  groups,  and  for  conven- 


80  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

ience  we  will  follow  that  grouping  as  far  as  prac- 
ticable. In  the  East  North  Central  Division  are 
the  states  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan, 
and  Wisconsin.  One  hundred  years  ago  these 
were  the  far  western  states.  But  the  frontier 
has  long  ago  departed  from  them.  They  now 
rank  among  our  most  populous  and  enterprising 
states.  These  five  states  have  a  combined  popu- 
lation of  18,250,621,  and  a  large  percentage  of  it 
is  Lutheran.  The  early  settlers  came  from  the 
East  and  South,  and  these  pioneers  put  their  im- 
pression upon  the  communities  where  they  settled. 
Among  those  early  pioneers  were  many  Luther- 
ans, and  wherever  they  settled  they  built  their 
homes  and  established  churches.  Later  when 
the  German  immigration  following  the  Napoleonic 
wars  came,  thousands  of  German  Lutherans  came 
teeming  into  these  states.  And  wherever  the  Ger- 
man came  he  built  churches  and  schools.  But 
the  Lutheran  Church  was  absolutely  unable  to 
keep  pace  with  the  immigration.  Much  was  done, 
but  thousands  were  lost  in  the  transition. 

In  the  earlier  days  these  states  were  almost 
exclusively  agricultural  in  character,  but  the  in- 
dustrial era  in  late  years  has  greatly  changed  and 
is  changing  their  character.  This  industrial  era 
is  the  age  of  city  development,  and  this  means  a 
readjustment  of  the  population.  Thousands  of 
those  who  were  reared  on  the  farm  are  going  to 
the  cities  in  search  of  employment.  When  these 
leave  the  country  they  almost  invariably  leave 


THE    FIETD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  81 

their  church  relations  behind.  They  make  their 
home  in  the  city,  but  they  claim  their  church 
membership  in  the  old  home  church.  Such  a 
state  of  affairs  makes  Home  Missions  impera- 
tive. The  missionary  must  follow  these  wanderers 
in  to  the  city  and  anchor  them  in  the  Church  of 
their  faith.  The  great  Home  Mission  problem 
of  this  group  of  states  is  that  of  the  city  mission. 

Another  important  problem  in  these  states  is 
that  of  the  immigrant.  These  five  states  have 
received  a  large  proportion  of  Lutheran  immi- 
gration from  Europe.  Such  large  cities  as  Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee,  Cleveland  and  Toledo  have  re- 
ceived thousands  of  Germans  and  Scandinavians. 
Many  of  these  originally  were  baptized  in  the 
Lutheran  faith.  Thousands  of  them  have  been 
gathered  into  the  Church,  many  of  them  have 
gone  into  the  other  denominations,  but  it  is  safe 
to  say  that  there  are  more  of  them  outside  the 
Church  to-day  than  there  are  inside  it.  The  in- 
gathering of  these  thousands  constitutes  the  Home 
Mission  problem  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  these 
states. 

Most  of  those  who  have  been  gathered  into 
the  Church  have  been  gathered  into  churches 
which  use  a  foreign  language.  This  fact  consti- 
tutes a  new  problem,  namely,  the  erection  of 
English  speaking  churches.  The  children  grow 
up  and  they  do  not  use  a  foreign  language,  but 
the  English,  consequently,  if  they  are  to  be  held 
in  the  Lutheran  Church,  English  services  must 


B2  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

be  maintained  for  them.  The  Home  Mission  prob- 
lem of  these  East  North  Central  Division  states 
is  the  problem  of  English  Lutheran  Home  Mis- 
sions. 

In  these  states  many  of  the  synods  have  their 
theological  seminaries,  and  they  are  working  man- 
fully to  meet  every  condition  that  arises.  In  this 
division  the  foreign  speaking  churches  have 
reached  their  limits.  From  this  time  they  will 
be  on  the  decline.  More  and  more  they  must 
introduce  the  English  language,  and  this  will 
mean  a  wonderful  change.  These  churches  will 
be  maintained  by  the  younger  men  who  have 
been  born,  raised  and  educated  in  this  country 
and  who  have  the  traditions  of  America  and  not 
of  Germany  and  Scandinavia.  This  era  of  transi- 
tion must  be  an  era  of  great  Home  Mission  ac- 
tivity. 

These  five  states  present  great  problems  to  the 
Lutheran  Church  at  this  time.  In  these  states 
the  Church  has  a  large  share  of  its  present 
strength,  and  if  the  Home  Mission  work  is  prose- 
cuted as  it  should  be,  the  future  years  will  show 
that  the  Lutheran  faith  shall  have  dominated  the 
religious  life  in  this  territory. 

The  West. 

From  the  central  states  we  turn  our  eyes  to- 
wards the  course  of  empire  and  look  to  the  West. 
The  setting  sun  reveals  the  golden  fields  of  Home 
Mission  enterprise.     In  the  West  is  the  Home 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  83 

Mission  opportunities  of  all  denominations,  and 
in  the  West  the  Lutheran  Church  has  the  lion's 
share.  The  future  of  the  country  is  in  the  West, 
and  that  Church  which  shall  evangelize  the  West 
shall  be  the  Church  which  in  the  future  shall 
dominate  the  religious  life  of  America,  if  not 
of  the  world.  Of  the  supremacy  of  the  West  Dr. 
Josiah  Strong  has  said:  "Beyond  a  peredvanture 
the  West  is  to  dominate  the  East.  With  more 
than  twice  the  room  and  resources  of  the  East, 
together  with  the  superior  power  and  influence 
which  under  popular  government  accompany 
them,  the  West  will  elect  the  executive  and  control 
legislation.  When  the  center  of  population  cros- 
ses the  Mississippi,  the  West  will  have  a  major- 
ity in  the  lower  House,  and  sooner  or  later  the 
partition  of  her  great  territories,  and  probably 
some  of  the  states,  will  give  to  the  West  the  con- 
trol of  the  Senate The  West  will  direct  the 

policy  of  the  Government,  and  by  virtue  of  her 
preponderant  population  and  influence  will  deter- 
mine our  national  character  and  therefore  des- 
tiny." 

An  idea  of  the  immensity  of  the  West  will  at 
once  convince  one  that  the  statement  of  Dr.  Strong 
is  none  too  emphatic.  Very  few  people  have  any 
idea  of  the  immense  proportions  of  the  western 
part  of  our  country.  We  quote  Dr.  Strong  again : 
"Of  the  twenty-two  states  and  territories  west 
of  the  Mississippi  only  three  are  as  small  as  all 
New   England.     Montana   would    stretch    from 


84  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

Boston  on  the  east  to  Cleveland  on  the  west,  and 
extend  far  enough  south  to  include  Richmond,  Va. 
Idaho,  if  laid  down  in  the  East,  would  touch 
Toronto,  Can.,  on  the  north  and  Raleigh,  N.  C, 
on  the  south,  while  its  southern  boundary  line 
is  long  enough  to  stretch  from  Washington  City 
to  Columbus,  Ohio;  and  California,  if  on  our  At- 
lantic seaboard,  would  extend  from  the  southern 
line  of  Massachusetts  to  the  lower  part  of  South 
Carolina;  or  in  Europe,  it  would  extend  from 
London  across  France  and  well  into  Spain.  New 
Mexico  is  larger  than  the  United  Kingdom  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  The  greatest  meas- 
urement of  Texas  is  nearly  equal  to  the  distance 
from  New  Orleans  to  Chicago,  or  from  Chicago 
to  Boston.  Lay  Texas  on  the  face  of  Europe  and 
this  giant  with  his  head  resting  on  the  mountains 
of  Norway  (directly  east  of  the  Orkney  Islands), 
with  one  palm  covering  London,  the  other  War- 
saw, would  stretch  himself  down  across  the  king- 
dom of  Denmark,  across  the  empires  of  Germany 
and  Austria,  across  Northern  Italy  and  lave  his 
feet  in  the  Mediterranean.  Dakota  might  be 
carved  into  a  half-dozen  kingdoms  of  Greece;  or 
if  it  were  divided  into  twenty-six  equal  countries 
we  might  lay  down  the  two  kingdoms  of  Judah 
and  Israel  in  each." 

Into  all  this  vast  territory  thousands  and  tens 
of  thousands  of  Lutherans  have  come  and  are 
still  coming.  There  is  not  a  state  in  this  great 
gigantic  West  that  does  not  now  possess  a  large 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOJIE    MISSIONS  85 

number  of  those  who  hold  to  the  faith  of  Luther. 
These  people  have  come  from  the  eastern  states, 
and  from  Europe.  For  fifty  years  they  have  been 
coming,  and  yet  the  fountain  from  whence  they 
flow  has  not  run  dry.  They  are  coming  and  will 
continue  to  come  until  economic  conditions  in  the 
East  are  equal  to  those  in  the  West.  Yes,  they 
will  continue  to  come  until  economic  conditions 
in  Europe  and  America  are  equalized. 

The  West  presents  to  the  Church  of  this  gene- 
ration the  greatest  problem  of  the  ages.  Here 
are  centering  the  forces  which  shall  make  or  des- 
troy America.  Here  the  Church  must  do  its  best 
work.  If  the  Church  fails  in  the  West  it  fails 
in  America.  Dr.  Joseph  E.  McAfee  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Home  Mission  Board  has  well  said :  "But 
if  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  itself  is  committed 
to  the  charge  of  setting  up  the  kingdom  of  God 
here  in  God's  world,  the  bringing  of  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world  under  the  sway  of  God  and  of  His 
Christ,  the  pouring  of  the  vivifying  life  of  the 
Son  of  God,  the  Saviour  of  men,  into  the  life  of 
the  great  human  brotherhood  the  world  'round, 
the  giving  back  to  the  redeeming  Christ  the  sat- 
isfaction of  His  soul  travail  in  the  redemption 
of  men  to  God, — if  the  Church  conceives  itself  as 
committed  to  anything  like  that  program,  then 
is  the  five-seventh  of  the  United  States  lying  west 
of  the  Mississippi  River  the  very  campaign 
ground  of  the  world's  spiritual  conquest.  If  the 
Church  aspires  to  shape  the  forces  which  are  to 


86  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

control  the  spiritual  destinies  of  this  new  country, 
why,  out  there  is  where  they  are  forming,  and 
there  must  the  Church  bend  her  energies.  If  the 
Church  means  to  mould  with  divine  potencies  the 
civilization  of  the  continent,  why,  out  there  is 
the  moulding  trough  and  there  must  she  thrust 
in  her  hand.  If  the  Church  would  touch  the  very 
nerve-center  of  the  new  world  spiritual  organism, 
she  must  reach  out  there.  If  the  Church  really 
understands  the  genus  of  the  kingdom  of  God 
among  men,  then  depend  upon  it,  she  will  not 
mistake  the   importance  of  this  ever-expanding 

ministry We  of  the  Church  of  Christ  have 

committed  to  us  not  merely  the  evangelization  of 
the  West  of  twenty-five  millions,  more  or  less, 
of  human  beings.  For  their  sakes  and  as  mere 
human  beings,  the  people  of  the  western  five-sev- 
enths of  the  United  States  are  no  better  than  any 
other  human  beings,  of  course  not.  And  if  we 
are  out  to  count  noses,  there  are  at  the  most  only 
twenty-five  millions.  A  paltry  handful,  as  num- 
bers go.  But  the  importance,  the  eternal  sanc- 
tity of  the  Church's  mission  in  the  West  appears 
rather  in  this:  that  here  she  has  the  chance  to 
touch  and  shape  the  forces  bound  to  be  the  most 
potent  in  the  world  for  hastening  or  retarding  the 
kingdom  of  God.  Here  is  the  chance  to  redeem 
those  who  shall  in  their  turn  be  in  very  truth  the 
world's  redeemers  or  who  shall  live  and  strive 
to  curse  the  world.  The  West,  the  biggest  por- 
tion of  this  great  land  of  ours,  uncovers  the  ques- 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  87 

tion  as  to  whether  the  Church  of  Christ  conceives 
itself  large  enough  and  vital  enough  to  make  the 
kingdom  of  God  a  reality  in  the  most  potent  civil- 
ization in  the  world." 

To  the  Lutheran  Church  such  a  statement  as 
that  of  Dr.  McAfee  is  almost  prophetic.  "Almost 
seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  great  stream  of  our 
immigration  has  been  pouring  into  the  West,  and 
it  is  safe  to  say  that  fully  one  half,  if  not  two- 
thirds  of  that  western  immigration  is  of  German 
and  Scandinavian  stock.  In  the  West  our  Luther- 
an Church  has  a  call  and  opportunity  such  as  she 
never  had  in  any  other  country.  There  is  now 
a  new  opening  offered  to  our  Church.  The  next 
twenty-five  years  are  the  time  in  which  we  must 
establish  there  or  lose  the  West.  The  founda- 
tions are  already  well  laid.  The  German  and 
Scandinavian  Lutherans  of  the  West  have  done 
a  grand  and  solid  work  in  establishing  their  syn- 
ods, in  covering  a  vast  territory  with  their  mis- 
sionary operations,  and  particularly  in  making 
ample  provisions  for  the  religious  training  of  their 
youth.  On  this  solid  foundation  let  a  sound  and 
aggressive  Lutheranism  be  reared,  and  the  West 
shall  be  ours.  . .  .  No  emancipated  Lutheranism, 
unable  to  stand  on  its  own  foundations,  robbed 
of  its  distinctive  life  and  character  will  ever  be 
a  telling  force  in  the  West.  We  must  be  true 
to  ourselves  and  not  afraid  to  hoist  the  good  old 
flag  of  our  fathers:  their  confession,  full  and 
true  and  unabridged.    But  we  must  not  attempt 


88  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

to  shut  up  this  confession  in  the  language  of  the 
immigrant.  Sound  Lutheranism  in  the  English 
tongue,  this  is  what  we  owe  to  the  West,  and  this 
will  make  our  Church  a  power  for  good  in  that 
great  field,  which  holds  the  destiny  of  America." 
Dr.  A.  Spaeth,  D.  D. 

The  West  North  Central  Division. 

The  West  North  Central  division  includes  the 
states  of  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Missouri,  North  Da- 
kota, South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  and  Kansas.  This 
was  the  wild  frontier  of  seventy-five  years  ago. 
Here  on  the  plains  the  buffalo  roamed,  and  the 
Indian  warrior  fought  his  battles  and  counted  his 
scalps.  But  now  buffalo  and  Indian  have  van- 
ished forever  and  instead  have  come  thousands 
of  farms  and  cities,  with  a  combined  population 
of  11,637,921. 

This  group  of  states  has  perhaps  received  a 
larger  number  of  Lutheran  immigrants  than  any 
other  section  of  the  country.  Here  German, 
Swede,  Norwegian,  and  Dane  vie  with  each  other 
in  home  building,  and  good  homes  have  they  built. 
In  this  group  of  states  the  foreign  speaking  Lu- 
theran churches  are  far  in  the  ascendency  to- 
day. Here  the  Lutheran  Church  practically  dom- 
inates the  religious  life,  and  a  glorious  record  it 
has  made. 

These  states  are  mainly  agricultural  and  these 
sturdy  Lutherans  know  how  to  wrest  from  the 
soil  its  wealth.     During  the  last    thirty    years 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  89 

Home  Mission  work  in  these  states  has  been  car- 
ried on  by  nearly  all  the  synods,  and  so  fruitful 
has  this  work  been  that  it  has  brought  the  center 
of  Lutheran  population  west  of  the  Mississippi 
River. 

In  this  group  of  states  the  language  question  is 
not  so  pressing  as  in  the  East  North  Central  divi- 
sion. Here  in  many  instances  the  language  of 
the  home  is  still  the  mother  tongue  from  Europe. 
But  the  day  is  at  hand  when  all  this  will  be 
changed.  The  rising  generation  is  clamoring  for 
the  faith  of  the  fathers  in  the  language  of  the  land. 

Immigration  is  not  so  strong  into  these  states 
as  it  was  a  few  years  ago,  but  there  are  untold 
possibilties  for  Home  Mission  endeavor.  The  story 
here  is  the  story  of  older  eastern  states — namely, 
a  large  ungathered  Lutheran  population. 

At  the  present  time  these  seven  states  offer  to 
the  Lutheran  Church  the  largest  returns  for  labor 
expended.  New  towns  are  rapidly  springing  up, 
and  new  territory  is  being  developed,  and  in  every 
new  enterprise  is  to  be  found  many  of  the  Lu- 
theran faith.  The  settlers  in  these  states  are 
past  the  pinch  of  poverty  experienced  by  the 
early  comers.  They  are  fast  becoming  wealthy. 
They  are  well  able  to  maintain  missionary  work 
in  their  midst,  and  they  welcome  it.  An  effectual 
door  is  open  to  the  Church  here.  If  the  Church 
will  put  forth  strenuous  efforts  in  these  states 
for  the  next  twenty  years  it  will  be  well  repaid. 

Missionary  work  in  these  states  cannot  be  car- 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  7 


90  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

ried  on  in  the  old  pioneer  fashion.  Services  once 
a  month  in  a  school  house  or  other  public  place 
will  not  do.  The  people  are  aggressive  and  up- 
to-date  and  nothing  less  than  a  settled  mission- 
ary with  an  attractive  church  building  will  do. 
Mission  work  from  the  very  beginning  must  take 
on  a  permanent  form  if  it  is  to  succeed.  The 
people  are  settled  in  their  homes  and  prosperous 
in  their  businesses,  and  nothing  that  looks  like 
possible  failure  will  attract  them.  It  takes  more 
money  and  effort  to  carry  on  missionary  work 
in  this  part  of  the  country  now  than  it  did  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  years  ago,  but  the  results  well 
repay  the  cost  and  effort.  In  the  course  of  ten 
or  twelve  years  a  mission  congregation  will  not 
only  become  self-sustaining,  but  it  will  become  a 
permanent  factor  in  the  religious  life  of  the  com- 
munity and  in  the  work  of  the  synod  to  which 
it  belongs.  This  West  North  Central  division  of 
states  presents  the  largest  and  ripest  missionary 
field  of  any  section  of  the  country.  Especially 
is  this  true  of  work  in  the  English  language. 
Nearly  all  the  synods  are  realizing  this,  and  they 
are  taking  up  English  work  with  an  enthusiasm 
never  before  known.  Fifteen  or  twenty  years 
will  see  a  complete  change  in  Lutheranism  in  this 
section.  Many  of  the  churches  which  now  have 
an  occasional  English  service  will  then  have  only 
an  occasional  service  in  any  other  language,  and 
those  which  now  have  no  English  will  then  have 
the  larger  majority  of  their  services  in  English. 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  91 

The  prevalent  use  of  the  English  language  will 
have  a  tendency  to  unify  the  various  synods,  and 
this  will  hasten  the  day  of  greater  Home  Mis- 
sion work.  When  the  day  comes  that  the  larger 
majority  of  the  congregations  use  the  English 
language,  then  the  time  will  have  come  when  our 
Lutheran  Home  Mission  work  can  be  more  quick- 
ly completed.  The  Lutheran  Church  in  this  group 
of  states  is  destined  to  take  a  most  prominent 
part  in  the  future  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
America. 

The  Mountain  Division. 

The  mountain  division  includes  the  states  of 
Montana,  Idaho,  Wyoming  and  Nevada.  These 
states  have  a  population  of  2,633,517.  This  sec- 
tion now  comprises  our  real  frontier.  Here  the 
country  is  sparsely  settled  and  things  take  on  a 
frontier  appearance.  These  states  have  great 
possibilities,  and  promise  a  rapid  development. 
Irrigation  and  dry  farming  are  working  wonders 
in  these  states.  Only  in  very  recent  years  has  the 
great  possibilities  of  irrigation  been  realized. 
Since  1905  the  government  has  undertaken  great 
irrigation  tasks  and  is  making  the  desert  literally 
bloom  as  the  rose.  Irrigation  has  brought  about 
a  rapid  development  of  this  section  and  promises 
still  more  for  the  future.  In  the  next  few  years 
irrigation  projects  alone  will  increase  the  popula- 
tion of  this  section  by  20,000,000.  Any  one  fa- 
miliar with  Home  Mission  work  knows  this  means 


92  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

the  greatest  opportunity  for  the  Church.  The  in- 
rushing  population  will  soon  become  godless, 
crazed  by  the  desire  of  wealth,  unless  the  Church 
early  plants  its  forts  in  their  midst.  There  will 
be  thousands  of  our  faith  in  these  new  develop- 
ments, and  the  Lutheran  Church  must  be  on  the 
ground  early  if  it  would  win. 

Mission  work  in  these  new  towns  will  be  differ- 
ent from  that  on  the  old  frontier.  Here  the  town 
grows  full  size  in  a  few  months  or  at  most  in  a 
few  years,  and  the  Church  must  keep  pace  with 
the  town.  A  dingy,  uninviting  church  building 
with  a  slow-going,  inactive  congregation  will  not 
win  in  this  territory.  Into  this  rapidly  develop- 
ing frontier  the  Church  must  send  its  best  mis- 
sionaries and  must  give  them  liberal  support.  If 
this  is  done  then  we  will  win.  If  the  Church 
waits  and  gives  beggarly  aid  to  those  whom  it 
does  send  it  will  lose.  This  mountain  division  is 
big  with  hope.  The  setting  sun  over  these  wes- 
tern mountain  tops  reveals  the  largest  possibili- 
ties for  the  Lutheran  Church,  if  only  our  people 
will  awake  to  the  situation  and  uphold  the  hands 
of  those  who  are  set  to  wage  our  battles  in  these 
parts. 

The  Pacific  Slope. 

The  Pacific  slope  includes  the  states  of  Wash- 
ington, Oregon,  and  California.  These  states  have 
a  population  of  4,192,304.  In  our  early  history, 
for  a  long  time,  most  of  this  country  was  known 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  93 

as  "no  man's  land."  For  twenty  years  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  were  under  treaty  with 
each  other  that  neither  could  claim  this  part  of 
our  continent.  The  winning  of  this  country  to 
our  nation  was  the  result  of  Home  Missionary 
endeavor,  and  the  story  is  as  interesting  as  any 
recorded  in  the  pages  of  history.  This  great 
Northwestern  country  has  filled  up  with  inhab- 
itants in  recent  years  and  is  now  rich  Home  Mis- 
sion territory  for  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Our  Church  has  entered  this  territory  and  is 
doing  a  large  work.  The  German  and  Scandi- 
navian people  of  the  states  to  the  east  are  rapidly 
entering  this  section  and  are  making  it  a  wonder- 
ful country.  They  are  subduing  it  with  the  same 
persistency  and  determination  with  which  they 
subdued  the  old  frontier.  If  the  Lutheran  Church 
is  wise  it  will  plant  this  territory  full  of  Home 
Mission  congregations  and  in  the  future  it  will 
lead  the  religious  life  of  these  states.  But  here 
again  modern  methods  must  be  used.  The  old 
slow  way  will  not  win.  The  people  who  are  set- 
tling these  states  are  progressive  and  will  not 
submit  to  slow  ways.  Aggressiveness  will  bring 
victory  to  our  Lutheran  hosts  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  Men  and  means  must  be  forthcoming 
if  we  are  to  win  in  these  states. 

The  South. 

From  the  earliest  times  there  have  been  Lu- 
therans in  the  South.     In  1734  they  settled  in 


94  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

this  part  of  the  country  and  they  now  number 
50,000  communicants.  There  are  eight  synods  of 
them  federated  in  what  is  known  as  the  United 
Synod  of  the  South.  The  South  has  been  passing 
through  a  season  of  prosperity  in  late  years.  It 
is  felt  alike  in  the  market  and  the  Church.  The 
Lutheran  Church  has  felt  this  prosperity  and  has 
awakened  to  new  undertakings.  As  Home  Mis- 
sion territory  the  South  offers  great  possibilities. 
It  has  been  an  agricultural  section,  but  a  new 
order  is  arising.  Factories  are  springing  up  on 
every  hand  and  the  new  era  of  industrialism  is 
coming  in.  This  brings  the  Church  face  to  face 
with  new  problems  and  gives  to  it  a  great  Home 
Mission  opportunity.  This  readjustment  of  the 
social  order  is  a  trying  ordeal,  but  it  is  the  day 
of  Home  Missions. 

Throughout  the  entire  South  there  is  a  large 
scattered  Lutheran  population  which  must  be 
gathered  into  the  Church.  At  the  present  time 
the  South  offers  the  greatest  advantages  to  the 
homeseeker  and  undoubtedly  will  receive  a  large 
immigration  in  the  years  to  come.  This  will  make 
the  South  strategic  in  the  work  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

The  negro  and  the  mountain  white  present 
Home  Mission  problems  peculiar  to  the  South. 
Among  both  a  start  has  been  made.  Only  the 
years  to  come  can  reveal  what  the  success  will 
be.  But  judging  from  past  experience  the  Lu- 
theran Church  will  handle  these  problems  satis- 


THE    FIELD    OF    HOME    MISSIONS  95 

factorily.  In  the  South  as  well  as  in  other  sec- 
tions of  our  country  the  problem  of  Home  Mis- 
sions is  becoming  the  problem  of  the  city  mission. 
How  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  multitudes  of  young 
people  who  are  making  their  way  from  the  farms 
into  the  numerous  towns  and  cities  which  are 
springing  up  along  the  railroads  and  factory  cen- 
ters, is  the  problem  which  now  confronts  the  Lu- 
theran Church  of  the  South.  If  the  Church  is  to 
do  the  work  which  the  Lord  has  given  it  to  do 
in  the  South  it  must  have  more  men  and  more 
means.  Our  Lutheran  Home  Mission  work  here 
as  elsewhere  has  not  been  properly  supported. 
Give  the  South  able  Home  Missionaries  with  lib- 
eral support  and  the  results  to  the  Lutheran 
Church  will  be  surprisingly  large. 


^^^ 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  People  for  Lutheran  Home  Missions. 
The  American  and  the  German. 


The  People. 


The  Home  Missionary  in  the  Lutheran  Church 
has  many  nationalities  with  which  to  deal.  It  is 
very  necessary  that  he  should  know  the  traits 
and  characteristics  of  each.  To  gain  such  a  knowl- 
edge a  study  of  each  nationality  will  be  necessary. 
However,  it  must  be  conceded  in  the  outset  that 
it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  characterize  a  people 
other  than  one's  own  and  to  do  them  justice.  Im- 
partial as  one  may  try  to  be,  unconsciously  he  is 
influenced  by  his  own  prejudices.  Naturally  he 
will  value  other  people  by  his  own  standards.  But 
a  careful  study  of  national  traits  will  be  of  untold 
value  to  the  Home  Missionary.  In  fact  it  will  be 
impossible  for  him  to  carry  on  successful  work 
unless  he  thoroughly  knows  the  people  among 
whom  he  is  to  work. 


THE   PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  97 

A  Partially  Prepared  People. 

The  people  for  Lutheran  Home  Missions  differ 
widely  in  national  traits  and  characteristics,  but 
they  all  have  one  thing  in  common — they  are 
partly  prepared  for  the  work.  The  Home  Mis- 
sionary always  addresses  himself  to  those  some- 
what prepared  and  instructed.  He  never  goes  to 
those  who  are  totally  untaught,  as  does  the  For- 
eign Missionary.  He  works  with  those  who  have 
some  understanding  of  the  Gospel  and  have  en- 
joyed some  religious  advantages.  For  whether 
he  seeks  to  gather  in  those  scattered  on  the 
frontier,  or  to  establish  the  Church  among  the 
newly  arrived  immigrants,  or  to  reach  the  neg- 
lected and  ignorant  masses  in  our  cities,  he  deals 
with  people  who  have  some  degree  of  Christian 
knowledge.  They  may  be  deplorably  ignorant, 
but  they  are  not  totally  untaught. 

The  American. 

The  greater  part  of  our  Lutheran  Home  Mis- 
sion work  is  carried  on  among  nationalities  other 
than  the  American,  but  we  have  a  large  number 
of  Americans  and  are  getting  more  all  the  time. 
While  our  Church  has  been  counted  a  foreign 
church,  still  it  is  reaching  the  native  American, 
and  the  Home  Missionary  who  does  not  know  how 
to  deal  with  him  is  a  failure. 

The  colonial  stocks  of  America  were  the  Eng- 
glish,  Dutch,  Swede,  German,  Scotch-Irish,  and 


98  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

Huguenot.  These  were  the  people  who  fought 
for  our  independence,  established  our  freedom 
and  created  our  nation.  These  people  each  con- 
tributed a  share  to  the  life  of  our  country.  The 
English  gave  us  language,  laws,  and  most  of  our 
customs.  The  Dutch  gave  us  industry  and  com- 
merce. The  Germans  and  Swedes  gave  us  thrift 
and  perseverance.  The  Sscotch-Irish  gave  us 
vigor  and  tireless  energy,  while  the  Huguenot 
gave  us  speed  and  taste. 

Conscientiousness.  Conscience  was  paramount 
with  our  early  settlers.  They  were  religious  men, 
men  who  demanded  liberty  of  conscience  in  all 
matters,  especially  in  the  worship  of  God.  This 
was  a  most  excellent  trait,  and  without  it  our 
American  Republic  could  never  have  become  the 
great  nation  it  now  is.  This  colonial  trait  has 
come  down  to  the  present  day.  The  true  Ameri- 
can is  a  conscientious  man. 

Courage.  Courage  was  a  marked  quality  of 
our  pioneers.  A  moment's  consideration  will 
show  that  it  took  a  fine  type  of  courage  to  face 
a  wild  country,  such  as  ours  was,  and  that  country 
inhabited  by  savage  men.  But  our  fathers  had 
that  courage,  and  prompted  by  it  they  overcame 
the  Indian,  subdued  the  wilderness,  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  the  government,  and  planted  the  church. 
The  march  of  civilization  across  our  country  has 
developed  the  finest  type  of  courage  seen  in  any 
land.  The  American  still  has  that  quality,  and 
moved  by  it  he  is  undertaking  projects  which 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS  99 

baffle  all  other  nations.  Some  one  has  said,  "the 
American  loves  a  tough  job."  The  Home  Mission 
problem  of  the  Lutheran  Church  gives  him  that 
job. 

Ener-gy.  The  early  settlers  were  famous  for 
their  energy.  To  clear  the  forests,  till  the  fields, 
build  cities,  construct  government  and  defend 
themselves  required  a  great  store  of  tireless  ener- 
gy. The  energy  of  the  early  days  has  not  departed 
from  our  people.  There  is  no  European  people 
w^ith  such  a  tireless  energy  as  the  American.  Here 
in  America  we  move  at  a  speed  which  startles 
the  world.  This  is  due  partly  to  the  fact  that  we 
are  the  best  fed  people  in  the  world,  and  partly 
to  the  undeveloped  resources  of  a  new  country, 
but  more  largely  to  our  climate  which  acts  as  a 
constant  stimulus.  Ten  years  after  the  landing 
of  the  Pilgrims,  the  Rev.  Francis  Higginson 
wrote,  "A  sup  of  New  England  air  is  better  than 
a  whole  flagon  of  English  ale."  Some  one  has 
said :  "A  stimulating  climate,  the  undeveloped  re- 
sources of  a  continent,  our  social  and  political  in- 
stitutions, have  all  united  to  produce  the  most 
forceful  and  tremendous  energy  in  the  world." 
Archdeacon  Farrar  said  in  1885,  "In  America  I 
have  been  most  struck  with  the  enormous  power, 
vivacity,  and  speed  in  every  department  of  ex- 
ertion." 

This  tireless  energy  of  the  American  is  a  valu- 
able asset  to  the  Church  when  directed  in  the 
proper  channels.     It  takes  a  store  of  energy  to 


100  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

carry  on  our  Home  Mission  work.  Digging  the 
Panama  Canal  is  a  small  undertaking  compared 
with  our  Home  Mission  enterprises.  It  will  take 
more  energy  to  gather  in  the  unchurched  in  Amer- 
ica than  to  make  a  passage  way  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Consideration.  America  has  been  the  asylum 
for  the  oppressed.  To  this  country  the  nations 
have  flocked  and  here  they  meet  each  other  on 
a  common  footing.  This  commingling  of  the  na- 
tions in  our  land  has  taught  us  consideration. 
Our  idea  of  freedom,  personal  responsibility  and 
liberty  leads  us  to  be  considerate  of  all  people. 
We  have  no  royal  aristocracy.  One  citizen  is  as 
good  as  another,  and  every  one  has  a  share  in 
building  up  the  nation.  Equality  of  citizenship 
has  made  the  American  considerate  of  all  people 
who  came  to  these  shores.  It  is  this  quality  that 
has  made  our  country  the  great  Home  Mission 
country  it  is.  We  have  welcomed  the  people  from 
Europe,  and  they  have  come.  Now  it  is  our  duty 
to  bring  to  them  the  Gospel.  We  do  not  mean 
to  say  that  they  were  heathen  when  they  came. 
But  in  tearing  away  from  the  soil  of  their  native 
lands  they  have  drifted  away  from  the  Church, 
and  it  is  the  duty  of  Lutheran  Home  Missions  to 
gather  them  into  the  Church  again. 

Ideals.  America  is  the  home  of  high  ideals. 
Ideals  have  developed  here  more  in  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  than  would  have  been  possible  in 
a  thousand  years  under  the  monarchies  of  Europe. 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS  101 

While  the  American  has  high  ideals  still  he  is 
not  fanciful.  He  seeks  to  bring  his  ideals  into 
reality  and  is  not  content  until  he  has  done  so. 

Home  Mission  workers  need  high  ideals.  To 
bring  the  40,000,000  unchurched  people  of  Amer- 
ica into  the  Church  is  an  undertaking  of  immense 
magnitude.  No  one  with  small  ideals  need  en- 
deavor to  do  this.  Large  as  the  undertaking  may 
seem  the  work  will  be  done. 

Colonization.  As  a  colonizer  the  American  has 
no  equal.  Our  thirteen  colonies  have  grown  into 
forty-eight  colonies.  Our  original  3,000,000  peo- 
ple have  become  90,000,000  and  that  in  the  short 
space  of  one  hundred  and  forty  years.  More  than 
3,000,000  square  miles  of  wilderness  have  been 
subdued  by  our  people.  European  nations  have 
planted  their  colonies,  but  no  people  ever  swept 
over  such  a  vast  area  of  country  in  such  a  short 
time  and  brought  it  to  such  a  high  state  of  devel- 
opment. Each  succeeding  generation  pushed  far- 
ther into  the  wilderness,  and  in  less  than  a  hun- 
dred years  we  had  crossed  the  continent  and  left 
it  inhabited. 

Intellectual  life.  The  intellectual  life  of  a  people 
is  found  in  its  literature.  While  America  has  her 
literature,  still  the  intellectual  life  of  our  people 
as  a  whole  has  run  along  other  channels.  Josiah 
Strong  says :  *'The  intellectual  vigor  of  the  Amer- 
ican has  displayed  itself  less  in  the  pursuit  of  lit- 
erature than  in  the  mastery  of  the  physical  con- 
ditions involved  in  the  conquest  for  civilization 


102  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

of  three  million  square  miles  of  territory.  With 
nations  as  with  individuals  physical  development 
precedes  intellectual."  However,  America  is  com- 
ing to  her  own  in  the  intellectual  life.  Our  col- 
leges and  universities  are  ranking  with  the  best 
in  Europe,  and  our  scholars  and  professional  men 
are  in  the  front  ranks. 

Inventive  genius.  As  an  inventive  genius  the 
American  has  no  equal.  Speaking  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  race,  Josiah  Strong  says  in  "The  New 
Era":  "In  this  sphere  the  Anglo-Saxon  has  no 
rival.  Of  the  important  inventions  doubtless  the 
mariner's  compass,  gunpowder,  printing,  the 
steam-engine,  the  electric  telegraph,  the  applica- 
tion of  steam  to  the  printing-press,  the  locomotive, 
and  the  steamship  are  those  which  have  exerted 
the  most  profound  and  far-reaching  influence  on 
civilization  and  the  destiny  of  nations.  The  first 
two  originated  in  the  far  East  and  the  remote 
past.  Of  the  last  six,  five  were  Anglo-Saxon  in 
origin.  Only  less  important  than  these  were  the 
invention  or  discovery  of  the  power-loom,  the 
mule-jenny,  the  cotton-gin,  illuminating  gas,  the 
Bessemer  steel  process,  the  sewing  machine,  the 
reaper  and  the  threshing  machine,  all  of  which 
are  Anglo-Saxon."  Herbert  Spencer  says  that 
"beyond  question,  in  respect  of  mechanical  appli- 
ances, the  Americans  are  ahead  of  all  nations." 

Mo7iey-making  poiver.  Among  the  striking 
characteristics  of  the  American  is  his  ability  to 
make  money.    America  is  the  land  of  millionaires. 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  103 

The  American  has  the  ability  to  turn  everything 
into  gold.  He  is  one  of  the  greatest  money- 
makers in  the  world.  He  will  undertake  anything 
as  long  as  it  promises  to  be  a  financial  success. 
He  will  invest  his  last  dollar  in  an  enterprise  if 
it  promises  to  bring  gain.  His  success  at  making 
money  has  attracted  the  attention  of  the  world. 

In  the  development  of  the  Church  this  power 
becomes  an  important  factor.  It  puts  him  in  a 
position  to  aid  the  Church  in  carrying  on  its  Home 
Missionary  enterprises.  Our  Lutheran  people 
have  this  money-making  power,  and  this  will  help 
solve  our  problem  in  the  future.  When  once  our 
people  learn  to  be  liberal,  then  the  Church  will 
be  in  a  position  to  gather  in  those  who  are  with- 
out the  fold. 

Statesmanship.  In  statesmanship  the  American 
is  not  behind  any  race.  To  build  up  such  a  gov- 
ernment as  we  have  out  of  the  material  at  hand, 
required  the  greatest  statesmanship  the  world  has 
ever  seen.  A  republic  was  unknown  until  Amer- 
ica showed  to  the  world  that  a  republican  form 
of  government  was  best  suited  to  happiness  and 
progress.  Our  American  constitution  is  recog- 
nized as  the  highest  example  of  constructive 
statesmanship  in  history.  Mr.  Gladstone  pro- 
nounced it  "the  most  wonderful  work  ever  struck 
off  at  a  given  time  by  the  brain  and  purpose  of 
men."  The  development  of  our  country  under 
that  constitution  has  required  the  very  best 
statesmanship  that  could  be  procured,  and  our 


104  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

nation  has  furnished  that  statesmanship.  Amer- 
ica has  taken  her  place  as  one  of  the  foremost 
nations  of  the  world,  and  this  position  has  been 
gained  because  America  was  able  to  produce 
statesmen  that  could  lead  and  direct  our  people. 
The  very  air  of  freedom  and  liberty  which  we 
breathe,  seems  to  stimulate  the  powers  of  states- 
manship. 

Physical  characteristics.  With  such  commin- 
gling of  peoples  America  has  not  yet  produced  a 
physical  cype.  There  is  yet  too  much  mixed  blood 
in  our  country.  But  when  the  American  type 
does  become  fixed  it  is  sure  to  be  a  noble  type 
of  physical  manhood.  Already  the  indications 
are  that  the  future  American  will  be  a  large, 
strong  man.  Dr.  Baxter's  official  report  shows 
that  our  native  whites  were  over  an  inch  taller 
than  the  English,  and  nearly  two-thirds  of  an 
inch  taller  than  the  Scotch,  who  in  height  were 
superior  to  all  other  foreigners.  What  the  Amer- 
ican type  of  physical  manhood  will  be  we  cannot 
say,  but  undoubtedly  it  will  be  the  best. 

Religious  life.  The  religous  life  of  the  Ameri- 
can is  emotional,  intense,  and  active.  He  comes 
nearer  living  his  religion  than  any  other.  His 
religion  like  his  business  must  count.  He  has 
no  sympathy  with  a  religious  belief  that  does  not 
show  results.  He  must  see  the  effects  of  his 
religion  in  the  lives  of  individuals  and  commun- 
ities, or  he  is  not  satisfied.  He  values  principles 
but  prefers  to  see  results.     His  religion  moves 


THE  PEOPLE   I'OR  LUTUERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  105 

him  to  the  greatest  philanthropy.  Of  all  people 
he  is  most  easily  moved  by  great  moral  ideals. 
No  race  is  so  capable  of  a  moral  enthusiasm  as 
the  American.  A  religious  enthusiasm  will  sweep 
over  our  country  in  an  incredibly  short  time.  He 
is  quick  to  accept  responsibility  for  the  ignorant 
and  the  degraded.  When  the  Cubans  and  Fili- 
pinos were  suffering  under  the  tyranny  of  Spain, 
the  American  nation  stepped  in  and  rescued 
them.  This  they  did  not  for  glory  or  gain,  but 
because  they  were  ready  to  accept  the  responsi- 
bility of  lifting  up  a  downtrodden  people.  The 
American  will  always  make  genuine  self-sacrifice 
when  he  sees  that  he  can  better  humanity  by  so 
doing.  As  a  people  quick  to  respond  to  religious 
influence  the  American  has  no  equal  in  any  land. 

The  Germans. 

German  Immigration.  Before  the  Revolution- 
ary War  the  Germans  had  come  to  this  country 
in  large  numbers.  It  is  estimated  that  there 
were  225,000  in  this  country  at  the  time  of  the 
outbreaking  of  the  war.  They  had  settled  the 
frontier  from  Mohawk  in  New  York  to  Georgia 
in  the  South.  They  had  settled  the  Piedmont 
Plateau  lying  at  the  base  and  east  of  the  Appa- 
lachian mountains  and  the  great  valley  lying  be- 
tween the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains. Beginning  in  Pennsylvania  they  had  ex- 
tended across  Maryland  and  southeast  through 
Virginia  and  the  Carolinas.    With  their  Scotch- 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  o 


106  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

Irish  neighbors  they  formed  the  frontier.  They 
battled  heroically  and  successfully  with  nature, 
and  when  it  came  to  shaking  off  the  English 
yoke  they  formed  a  decisive  factor  in  Washing- 
ton's army. 

First  Wave,  1831-1860.  All  along  there  had 
been  a  small  stream  of  German  immigration  into 
this  country,  but  the  great  increase  did  not  come 
until  the  decade  of  1831 — 1840.  Starting  up- 
ward in  1832  with  over  ten  thousand  it  reached 
more  than  twenty-nine  thousand  in  1848  and  a 
total  of  fifty-two  thousand  for  the  decade. 

There  were  various  causes  which  brought  this 
immigration,  such  as  over-population,  over- 
crowding in  the  farming  districts,  the  rise  of 
the  factory  system  which  ruined  the  small  hand- 
industries  in  Germany.  Contemporary  with  this 
is  found  a  period  of  prosperity  and  expansion  in 
the  United  States.  Mr.  Turner,  writing  in  the 
Chicago  Record  Herald  in  1901,  says:  "  It  was 
an  era  of  land  speculation,  town-building,  and 
westward  movement.  A  flood  of  settlers  poured 
by  way  of  the  Erie  Canal  and  steamboats  into 
the  land  between  the  Ohio  and  the  Great  Lakes; 
the  cotton  culture  spread  population  into  the 
Gulf  states,  and  Missouri  received  an  important 
influx  of  settlers.  These  conditions  were  made 
known  in  Germany.  Cheap  lands,  light  taxes,  the 
need  of  laborers  and  the  opportunity  to  gain  a 
competence  in  a  short  time  by  toil, — these  were 
considerations  that  attracted  the  Germans." 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONvS  107 

The  period  from  1840  to  1860  is  one  of  large 
German  immigration.  Beginning  with  57,500 
German  immigrants,  in  one  year  the  figures 
reached  215,000.  This  was  the  year  1854.  In 
the  three  years  from  1852 — 54  over  five  hundred 
thousand  arrived,  and  during  the  nine  years  al- 
most nine  hundred  thousand.  The  great  Civil 
War  coming  on,  German  immigration  ceased 
until  the  war  was  over. 

The  highest  crest  of  the  wave  was  contempo- 
raneous with  the  troubles  in  Germany.  The  wars 
of  1848  and  the  following  years  drained  the 
country,  and  the  Germans  sought  refuge  in  Amer- 
ica. Political  persecutions  drove  men  like  Hec- 
ker,  Siegel,  and  Carl  Schurz  to  this  country. 
Economic  conditions  also  contributed  an  import- 
ant cause.  Poverty  and  famine  stared  many  in 
the  face,  and  America  promised  abundance. 

At  the  same  time  American  railroads  were 
opening  up  the  vast  Western  territories,  and 
new  states  such  as  Wisconsin  were  making  extra- 
ordinary efforts  to  attract  German  immigrants. 
The  improvement  of  ocean  travel  made  the  jour- 
ney shorter  and  cheaper,  and  furnished  better 
safeguards  for  transportation.  So  great  had  been 
the  inrush  of  Germans  into  this  country  that 
by  the  year  1860  there  were  1,276,075  foreign- 
born  Germans  who  had  made  America  their  per- 
manent home. 

Second  Wave,  1866-1889.  Another  high  wave 
of  German  immigration  came  after    the    Civil 


108  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

War.  The  desire  to  escape  irksome  military  serv- 
ice at  home  coupled  with  depressing  industrial 
conditions  throughout  Europe  furnished  a  new 
impulse  for  immigration.  From  1873  to  1879 
no  less  than  1,818,152  Germans  passed  through 
our  entrance  ports.  The  year  1882  was  the  ban- 
ner year  when  250,630  arrived.  This  record  has 
never  been  surpassed.  Large  immigration  con- 
tinued until  1885  and  then  gradually  decreased. 
The  period  of  this  second  wave  corresponds 
to  the  great  Prussian  wars  and  the  convulsions 
into  which  Germany  was  thrown  before  being 
welded  into  one  nation  by  the  Franco-Prussian 
war.  Military  duty  and  hard  pressure  upon  the 
population  had  much  to  do  with  this  large  im- 
migration. However,  the  allurements  on  this 
side  were  strong.  A  homestead  was  offered  to 
every  worthy  immigrant,  and  the  German  was 
"keenly  alive  to  the  desirability  of  possessing 
land."  The  Germans  have  always  been  "pious 
towards  land,"  and  the  opportunities  offered  in 
America  were  irresistible. 

Third  Wave,  1891—.  In  1891  there  began  a 
third  wave  of  German  immigration,  which  has, 
in  the  main,  been  directed  towards  Canada.  In 
1901  these  Teutonic  newcomers  in  the  Domin- 
ion's western  provinces  numbered  20,000,  includ- 
ing representatives  from  Austria,  Hungary,  and 
Russia.  Since  then  they  have  been  swarming 
thither  in  large  numbers  and  present  to  the  Lu- 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  109 

theran  Church  in  America  another  promising 
field  for  Home  Mission  activity. 

The  Present  Situation.  Rev.  Chas.  R.  Keiter, 
writing  in  the  Lutheran  Church  Review  for  April, 
1912,  says:  "We  find  the  total  contribution  of 
Germany  to  the  citizenship  of  the  United  States 
has  been  6,245,000.  Deducting  from  this  num- 
ber 745,000  for  such  as  resided  in  America  pre- 
vious to  the  year  1840,  and  for  the  insignificant 
portion  born  on  United  States  territory  outside 
the  continent  of  America  and  in  Alaska,  we  can 
boast  of  a  total  of  5,500,000  inhabitants  of  Ger- 
man extraction." 

Speaking  of  German  immigration,  Albert  B. 
Faust  says  in  "The  German  Element  in  the  Uni- 
ted States":  "In  regard  to  the  character  of  the 
German  immigration  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
much  applies  to  them  that  has  already  been  said 
in  regard  to  the  immigration  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  Yet  there  is  a  difl'erence  also.  There 
was  on  the  whole  a  much  larger  percentage  of 
men  of  culture  in  some  of  the  immigrations  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  There  were  many  re- 
fugees, not  from  religious  persecution,  as  in  the 
eighteenth  century,  but  from  political  oppression 
and  espionage.  These  were  men  who,  if  they  had 
been  tolerated,  would  have  become  influential  in 
the  public  life  of  their  native  land.  Coming  to 
this  country  they  spent  their  efforts  in  the  devel- 
opment of  political  and  social  conditions  in  the 
United  States,  beginning  with  the  improvement 
of  their  own  people  in  their  adopted  country." 


110  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

Looking  at  German  immigration  as  a  whole, 
two  significant  facts  appear,  first  that  of  the 
equal  distribution  of  the  German  immigration 
in  comparison  with  other  foreign  elements,  and, 
secondly,  the  existence  of  a  German  belt  where 
the  German  element  is  most  numerous  and  pros- 
perous. Their  equal  distribution  through  town 
and  country  and  proportionately  through  all  parts 
of  the  United  States,  recommends  the  German. 
Of  all  the  nations  coming  to  this  country,  none 
have  spread  over  the  whole  area  of  the  United 
States  as  the  Germans  have.  In  the  eighteenth 
century  they  chose  the  lands  best  adapted  for 
farming  purposes  and  clung  to  them,  and  in  the 
nineteenth  they  selected  the  area  which  at  the 
present  day  corresponds  to  the  most  productive 
and  progressive  in  the  United  States.  The  Ger- 
man belt  lies  between  the  northern  boundaries 
of  Massachusetts  and  of  Maryland,  spreads  west- 
ward north  of  the  Ohio  River  to  the  Great  Lakes 
and  onward  into  the  neighboring  two  tiers  of 
trans-Mississippi  states.  In  this  great  general 
zone  the  lands  of  densest  settlements  are  along 
the  coast,  along  the  Mohawk  Valley,  and  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania;  also  along  the  shores  of 
Lake  Ontario,  Lake  Erie  and  Michigan,  along  the 
Ohio  River,  and  down  the  Mississippi  from  St. 
Paul  to  St.  Louis.  The  states  which  contain  the 
most  native  Germans  are  in  order  New  York, 
Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio. 


THE  PEOPLE  FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS  111 

German  Characteristics.* 

The  Germans  in  the  United  States  have  fur- 
nished an  example  of  the  humbler  virtues  which 
constitute,  nevertheless,  the  backbone  of  good 
citizenship,  such  as  respect  for  the  law,  honesty 
and  promptness  in  the  discharge  of  business  obli- 
gations, dogged  persistence,  industry,  and  econ- 
omy. 

Honesty.  The  German  pays  his  debts.  Hon- 
esty is  the  virtue  which  is  the  foundation  of  all 
business  enterprise.  The  German  tradesman, 
mechanic,  and  agriculturist  possesses  the  quality 
from  the  earliest  period.  Dr.  Rush,  an  early 
writer  on  German  affairs  in  America,  says: 
"They  are  industrious,  frugal,  punctual,  and  just. 
As  merchants  they  are  candid  and  punctual." 

Persistency.  Professor  F.  J.  Turner  gives  as 
one  of  the  influences  of  the  German  element, 
that  "they  have  infused  into  the  American  stock 
and  society  a  conservatism  and  sturdy  persist- 
ence and  solidity  useful  in  moderating  the  nerv- 
ous energy  of  the  native  American."  The  Ger- 
man, as  farmer,  mechanic,  or  business  man, 
sticks  to  his  colors;  he  is  persistent,  win  or  lose, 
in  his  particular  profession;  he  continues  in  his 
devotion  to  it  either  reaching  the  goal  or  dying 
in  the  attempt. 

Love  of  Labor.    Above  all  things  the  German 

*  We  are  indebted  to  Faust's  'German  Element  in  the 
United  States'  for  this  characterization  of  the   Germans. 


112  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

loves  his  work.  He  is  not  forever  exercising  his 
ingenuity  as  to  how  he  may  do  the  least  work 
for  the  most  pay,  or  escape  work  altogether,  but 
he  plunges  in  and  enjoys  his  work,  knowing  the 
force  of  the  proverb,  "Work  makes  life  sweet." 

Sense  of  Duty.  The  sense  of  duty  is  inborn 
in  the  German,  though  he  be  unacquainted  with 
the  philosophy  of  Kant.  It  is  a  force  within 
him  as  potent  as  the  voice  of  conscience,  and  just 
as  exacting.  It  keeps  him  at  his  work,  forces 
him  to  respect  law  and  authority,  and  frequently 
impels  him  to  make  sacrifice  in  which  he  loses 
all  consideration  of  self. 

Simple  Life  and  Love  of  Home.  The  German 
has  furnished  and  continues  to  furnish  an  ex- 
ample of  simple  life  and  home  life.  The  German 
is  economical  and  thrifty,  and  has  shown  that 
plain  living  is  conducive  to  health  and  progress. 
The  middle-class  German  is  fond  of  home  life, 
and  takes  his  family  with  him  in  pursuit  of  sim- 
ple pleasures.  With  excellent  good-humor  even 
the  cultivated  German  accepts  the  conditions  of 
plainest  living  until  his  estate  improves. 

The  Joy  of  Living.  In  taking  pleasure  after 
toil,  in  relaxing  after  tension,  the  German  has 
furnished  an  example  to  the  busy  American,  who 
takes  even  his  pleasures  strenuously.  The  Ger- 
man in  his  own  country  gives  himself  a  good 
amount  of  leisure  and  healthful  pleasure,  and 
this  trait  enables  him  to  keep  his  mind  and  body 
fresh,   to  safeguard   against  over-exertion,   and 


THE  PEOPLE  FOR  LUTHEBAN   HOME   MISSIONS  113 

to  do  better  work  for  a  longer  time.  But  also 
as  a  corrective  of  too  stern  and  austere  a  view 
of  life,  the  German's  "joy  of  living"  has  exerted 
a  beneficent  influence. 

The  idea  of  an  agricultural  fair,  which  has 
become  so  popular  in  the  farming  districts  of 
our  country,  is  of  German  origin  and  comes  from 
his  idea  of  joy  in  living. 

The  one  celebration,  now  our  grandest  and 
sweetest  of  the  year,  into  which  the  Germans 
have  infused  soul  and  beauty,  is  Christmas.  They 
changed  its  character  from  that  of  solemnity  to 
joy  and  impressed  upon  it  the  mood  of  peace  and 
good  will  to  men.  They  introduced  the  Christ- 
mas tree  into  this  country  and  made  it  an  uni- 
versal emblem.  They  developed  the  custom  of 
giving  Christmas  gifts,  beginning  with  the  chil- 
dren. 

Care  of  Body.  With  all  his  idealism  the  Ger- 
man takes  good  care  of  his  physical  welfare,  is 
fond  of  food  and  drink,  and  wherever  he  has 
gone  has  supplied  himself  abundantly  with  both. 
The  Pennsylvania-German  farmer  may  be  taken 
as  an  illustration.  Later  immigration  brought 
German  physicians  and  druggists  in  great  num- 
bers, who  looked  to  the  health,  not  only  of  their 
own  people,  but  raised  the  standard  of  medical 
practice  throughout  the  country. 

Individualism.  A  strong  trait  in  the  German 
is  his  individualism.  It  is  seen  in  his  independ- 
ence in  politics,  his  particularism  in  religion,  his 


114  LUTHERAN  HOME  MISSIONS 

agitation  for  personal  liberty.  He  has  no  feeble 
fear  of  what  his  neighbors  think  of  him,  nor 
does  he  care  to  conform  for  the  sake  of  conform- 
ity to  the  common  pattern  of  wearing  apparel 
and  social  form.  This  trait  may  frequently  lead 
to  excess,  to  isolation,  or  to  lack  of  cooperation, 
but  it  is  also  an  excellent  bar  against  the  crush- 
ing of  individuality  by  commonplace  democratic 
standards. 

Idealism.  The  trait  of  idealism  should  receive 
a  word  of  comment.  It  has  probably  received  more 
attention  than  any  other  characteristic  of  the 
Germans  in  books  that  have  been  written  in  hot 
haste,  and  speeches  that  have  been  made  after 
dinner.  Idealism  is  the  heritage  of  the  German 
through  his  literature,  philosophy,  and  religion. 
In  America,  the  German  was  met  half-way  by 
the  idealism  of  the  Puritanic  element,  and  the 
two  combined  have  created  some  of  the  grandest 
institutions  in  the  country.  Heretofore  perhaps 
the  idealism  of  the  American  has  necessarily 
been  directed  towards  the  development  of  the 
great  resources  of  the  country;  the  German  ele- 
ment also  has  numbers  of  representatives  among 
the  captains  of  industry.  The  idealism,  however, 
which  has  acted  as  a  social  influence  through 
the  German  element,  and  which  should  therefore 
be  most  appreciated,  is  that  which  has  diverted 
attention  from  material  things  to  those  which 
make  life  more  beautiful  and  joyous.  That  ideal- 
ism has  been  well  defined  by  an  American  who 


THE  PEOPLE   FOB  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS  115 

has  carefully  studied  the  German  here  and 
abroad  and  twice  represented  the  American  na- 
tion in  the  home  land  of  the  German. 

Ambassador  A.  D.  White  says:  "The  dominant 
idea  is,  as  I  understand  it,  that  the  ultimate  end 
of  a  great  modern  nation  is  something  besides 
manufacturing,  or  carrying  on  commerce,  or  buy- 
ing or  selling  products;  that  art,  literature,  sci- 
ence and  thought  in  its  highest  flights  and  widest 
ranges,  are  greater  and  more  important;  and 
that  highest  of  all  is  the  one  growth  for  which 
all  wealth  exists — the  higher  and  better  devel- 
opment of  man,  not  merely  as  a  planner,  or  a 
worker,  or  a  carrier,  or  a  buyer  or  seller,  but 
as  a  man.  In  no  land  has  this  idea  penetrated 
more  deeply  than  in  Germany,  and  it  is  this  idea 
which  should  penetrate  more  and  more  American 
thought  and  practice." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  People  for  Lutheran  Home  Missions, 

Continued. 

The  Scandinavians  and  Slovaks. 

The  Scandinavians  have  the  honor  of  founding 
the  first  Lutheran  Church  in  America  and  of  con- 
tributing considerably  to  our  colonial  stock.  The 
early  Swedes  on  the  Delaware  proved  themselves 
better  colonists  than  the  Dutch  on  the  Hudson, 
but  their  real  influence  on  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  America  and  on  the  country  in  general  did  not 
begin  until  quite  late  in  our  history.  It  was  in 
1824  that  a  little  band  of  fifty  Norwegians  set 
sail  for  the  New  World.  After  encountering  many 
hardships,  their  tedious  journey  came  to  an  end, 
and  they  reached  their  destination  and  settled  in 
La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  as  farmers  and  lumber- 
men. The  hardships  and  privations  of  this  little 
colony  were  many,  and  not  until  1837  was  it 
joined  by  another  party  from  the  Old  World.  The 
second  party  having  arrived,  the  next  ten  years 
saw  the  colony  grow  to  five  hundred.    This  really 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  il7 

was  the  beginning  of  Scandinavian  immigration 
into  this  country.  The  climate  of  Illinois  did  not 
agree  with  these  Norsemen  and  they  turned  their 
eyes  northward.  They  moved  into  Wisconsin  and 
by  1845  their  number  had  grown  to  something 
like  ten  thousand. 

The  Swedes  did  not  come  to  America  for  per- 
manent settlement  until  later,  about  1852,  but 
when  once  they  did  start,  the  current  became  so 
strong  that  it  soon  became  an  inundation.  For 
a  while  it  looked  as  though  there  would  be  more 
Swedes  in  America  than  in  Sweden  itself. 

Danish  immigration  was  a  little  later  than  the 
Swedish,  beginning  about  1857.  While  Denmark 
is  one  of  the  small  Scandinavian  countries,  yet 
it  has  furnished  about  one  sixth  of  the  Scandi- 
navian immigration  into  America. 

Like  the  Germans,  the  Scandinavians  came  to 
better  their  economic  conditions,  or  to  escape  the 
rigorism  of  the  established  Church.  It  was  a  desire 
to  secure  for  themselves  rich  farms  in  America 
in  place  of  their  own  barren  fields  by  the  fjords 
of  Scandinavia,  a  desire  which  not  even  the  Civil 
War  could  abate,  which  induced  51,619  Scandi- 
navians to  cast  their  lot  with  us  between  1860 
and  1869.  Rev.  Chas.  R.  Keiter,  writing  in  the 
Lutheran  Church  Review  of  July,  1912,  says: 
"The  glowing  reports  which  these  pioneers  re- 
turned to  the  fatherland  doubled  Norse  immigra- 
tion in  the  next  decade  when  317,698  Swedes, 
Danes,  and  Norwegians  passed  through  the  en- 


118  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

trance  gates  of  Ellis  Island.  In  the  next  ten 
years,  1880 — 90,  the  wave  reached  its  climax, 
656,490  Scandinavians  making  their  appearance 
during  that  time.  The  year  1882  marked  their 
greatest  inpouring,  when  105,326  presented  them- 
selves for  admission  to  the  United  States.  Since 
1890  there  has  been  a  marked  decrease  in  the 
tide,  as  only  347,461  have  come  to  America  since 
that  year. 

"All  in  all  there  have  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  of  these  Northern  people  1,415,051.  Ad- 
ding to  this  number  the  number  of  inhabitants 
born  of  Scandinavian  parents  and  subtracting 
from  it  235,000  for  those  in  the  United  States 
previous  to  1840,  and  for  those  in  territories  out- 
side the  continent  or  in  Alaska,  we  find  the  total 
number  of  Scandinavian,  Swedish,  Danish,  and 
Norwegian  residents  in  the  nation  to  be  2,500,- 
000."  Roughly  estimating  the  proportions  we 
find  that  about  one  half  are  Swedes,  nearly  one 
third  Norwegians,  and  about  one  sixth  Danes. 

Of  the  total  number  about  365,000  are  com- 
municant members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  an 
average  percentage  of  fifteen  to  the  total  popula- 
tion. The  remainder  are  Protestants  or  Agnos- 
tics. Up  to  this  time  the  Scandinavian  immigra- 
tion has  contributed  to  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
this  country  about  twenty-two  per  cent,  of  its 
forces.  In  the  light  of  these  figures  it  can  readily 
be  seen  that  the  Lutheran  Church  has  a  tremen- 
dous Home  Mission  work  with  the  Scandinavian 


THE  PEOPLE   FOB  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS  119 

people  alone.  Much  work  has  been  done,  but 
much  more  remains  to  be  done.  The  Lutheran 
Church  has  wonderful  opportunities  with  the 
Scandinavians. 

Characteristics  of  the  Scandinavians. 
Strong  individuality*  The  most  prominent  of 
the  characteristics  of  the  Viking  was  his  strong 
individuality.  "His  intense  love  for  freedom,"  as 
Dr.  0.  M.  Nelson  well  says,  "his  overmastering 
desire  for  personal  independence,  amounted  to  a 
passion.  He  would  endure  the  rigid  climate  of 
the  North  or  the  burning  sun  of  the  South,  he 
would  sleep  beneath  no  other  roof  than  the  arch 
of  heaven,  eat  bark  for  bread,  drink  rain  as  his 
beverage,  make  the  wild  forests  his  habitation  and 
have  wild  beasts  for  his  companions,  but  he  would 
never  give  up  one  inch  of  his  right  as  a  free  man. 
No  king  or  ruler  has  been  able  for  any  length 
of  time  to  be  the  absolute  master  of  the  Scandi- 
navian people.  No  foreign  nation  has  been  power- 
ful enough  to  subjugate  them.  Sweden  and'  Den- 
mark have  dethroned  their  obstinate  monarchs. 
Norway  has  dared  to  draw  the  sword  against 
Europe  and  demand  national  independence.  The 
Scandinavians  were  the  last  people  to  submit  to 
the  yoke  of  Rome  and  the  first  to  throw  it  off . . . . 
To  be  free  and  independent  has  always  been  the 
greatest  ambition  of  every  true  Northman,  which 

*  Credit  is  due  to  Dr.  O.  M.  Nelson  for  much  of  the  fol- 
lowing characterization  of  the  Scandinavian  people. 


120  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

is  why  he  finds  the  atmosphere  of  this  country  so 
peculiarly  congenial." 

Courage.  "Another  characteristic  feature," 
continues  Dr.  Nelson,  "is  courage.  Whether  we 
wander  with  the  Goths  when  they  plundered  and 
destroyed  Rome,  or  sail  with  the  Danes  and  Nor- 
wegians when  they  dethroned  English  kings  and 
humbled  proud  French  monarchs,  or  live  in  the 
camp  of  the  Swedes  when  Gustavus  Adolphus  or 
Charles  the  Twelfth  dictated  terms  to  Popes  and 
Emperors,  or  accompany  the  Scandinavian  emi- 
grants to  the  great  Northwest  of  this  land,  when 
they  cleared  the  dense  forests  of  Wisconsin  and 
subdued  the  wild  prairies  of  Dakota,  we  find  that 
they  excel  in  edurance,  heroism,  and  courage," 

Firmness  and  Determination.  "Firmness  and 
determination  are  other  characteristic  qualities. 
To  the  Scandinavian,  in  all  the  course  of  his  his- 
tory, no  defeat  was  final.  Failure  only  meant 
delay.  He  overcame  all  opposition,  conquered 
every  obstacle,  defied  every  difficulty.  Mountains, 
oceans,  deserts,  rivers,  must  not  hinder  his  pur- 
pose." 

Assimilate  easily.  Of  all  immigrants  coming 
to  our  country  none  Americanize  so  rapidly  and 
completely  as  the  Scandinavians.  There  is  a  rea- 
son for  this.  They  adapt  themselves  to  American 
institutions  with  greater  ease  than  other  natio- 
nalities, not  because  their  own  nationality  is  de- 
void of  strong  characteristics,  but  because  they 
have  certain  fundamental  traits  in  common  with 


THE   PEOPLE    FOU   LUTHERAN    HOME    MISSIONS  121 

US  and  are,  therefore,  less  in  need  of  adaptation. 
In  the  old  country  they  are  accustomed  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  management  of  their  communal 
affairs  and  to  vote  for  their  representative  in  the 
National  Parliament.  The  sense  of  interest  in 
public  affairs  and  a  critical  attitude  towards  the 
acts  of  the  government  are  nowhere  so  general 
among  rich  and  poor  alike  as  in  Sweden  and  Nor- 
way. No  great  effort,  therefore,  is  required  on 
the  part  of  these  Scandinavians  to  transfer  their 
interests  in  public  affairs  to  the  affairs  of  their 
adopted  country.  With  increasing  prosperity 
comes  a  sense  of  loyalty  to  the  flag  and  they  be- 
come proud  of  the  fact  that  they  are  Americans. 
A  larger  proportion  of  Scandinavian  immigrants 
take  out  naturalization  papers  than  any  other 
people  coming  to  this  country. 

Patriotism.  Though  proud  of  their  Scandina- 
vian ancestry  they  love  America  and  American 
institutions  as  deeply  and  truly  as  do  the  descend- 
ants of  the  Pilgrims.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  mean 
as  much  to  them  as  to  any  other  citizen.  There- 
fore the  Scandinavian  American  feels  a  certain 
sense  of  ownership  in  the  glorious  heritage  of  this 
magnificent  country  with  its  rivers  and  moun- 
tains, its  lakes  and  forests,  and  all  its  noble  free 
institutions.  He  feels  that  these  blessings  which 
he  enjoys  are  his,  not  by  favor  or  sufferance,  but 
by  right,  by  moral  as  well  as  by  civil  right.  For 
he  took  possession  of  the  wilderness,  endured  the 
hardships  of  the  pioneer,    contributed    his    full 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  a 


122  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

share  towards  the  grand  results  accomplished,  and 
is  in  mind  and  heart  a  true  and  loyal  American 
citizen.  In  war  and  peace,  in  literature  and  com- 
merce, in  the  pulpits  and  legislative  halls,  they 
have  done  their  full  duty  towards  this  their 
adopted  country  and  have  been  an  honor  to  their 
native  land. 

Take  to  the  soil.  Of  the  Scandinavians  who 
have  come  to  this  country  in  the  past,  one  out  of 
four  has  engaged  in  farming.  Of  the  other  na- 
tionalities, one  out  of  six  of  native  Americans, 
one  out  of  seven  of  the  Germans,  and  one  out  of 
twelve  of  the  Irish  takes  to  the  soil.  It  is  largely 
on  account  of  their  great  love  and  fitness  for 
farming  that  the  Scandinavians  have  been  con- 
sidered by  nearly  all  American  political  economists 
to  be  the  best  immigrants  which  this  country  re- 
ceives. One  authority  says  "It  is  to  the  Scandi- 
navian immigrants  from  Sweden,  Norway,  and 
Denmark  that  the  Northwest  is  largely  indebted 
for  its  marvelous  development.  They  succeed  in 
farming  that  territory  where  the  Americans  with 
a  better  start  failed." 

Prof.  Babcock  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
who  has  made  a  special  study  of  the  Scandinavians 
in  this  country,  says:  "The  passion  for  the  pos- 
session of  land,  and  for  the  independence  which 
goes  with  it,  has  characterized  the  Scandinavians 
from  the  earliest  times,  and  it  is  this  which  makes 
them  such  valuable  citizens  of  the  Northwest. 
Had  they  preferred  to  huddle  together  in  large 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  123 

cities,  the  progress  of  this  important  part  of  our 
country  would  have  been  much  slower.  Up  to 
within  the  last  ten  years  the  towns  have  claimed 
only  a  small  percentage  and  even  now  not  more 
than  probably  ten  per  cent,  settle  in  towns.  Lim- 
ited means,  a  spirit  of  economy,  fearlessness  of 
hard  work  and  temporary  privations  have  made 
them  the  best  kind  of  pioneers  in  settling  new  ter- 
ritory. ...  As  a  people  they  are  sober,  earnest, 
industrious  and  frugal.  They  are  not  driven  here. 
They  come  of  their  own  accord,  and  come  to  stay, 
not  to  get  a  few  hundred  dollars  and  return  to  a 
life  of  idleness.  They  come  not  to  destroy  our 
American  institutions,  but  to  build  them  up  by 
heartily  adopting  them.  They  come  from  coun- 
tries not  potent  or  glorious  in  European  affairs, 
and  therefore  they  more  readily  denationalize 
themselves  that  they  may  become  entirely  Ameri- 
can. The  most  of  them  are  plain  common  people, 
strong,  sturdy,  independent,  requiring  to  unlearn 
little,  ready  to  learn  much  and  able  to  learn  it 
well.  They  still  have  the  same  powers  of  adapta- 
bility and  assimilation  that  made  Rollo  and  his 
Norsemen  such  good  Frenchmen  and  Guthrun  and 
his  Danes  such  excellent  Englishmen.  And  using 
these  powers  among  us  to-day  they  are  rapidly 
becoming,  nay,  they  are  already,  irreproachably 
and  unimpeachably  Americans." 

Not  exploiters.  "There  is  no  nation  in  Europe 
that  has  less  sympathy  with  Utopian  aspirations 
than  the  people  of  Sweden  and  Norway.     They 


124  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

have  been  trained  from  birth  to  industry,  frugali- 
ty and  manly  self-restraint  by  their  own  free  in- 
stitutions at  home  and  the  scant  resources  of 
their  native  lands.  The  moderation  and  self- 
restraint,  inherited  in  the  cold  blood  of  the  North, 
makes  them  constitutionally  inclined  to  trust  in 
slow  and  orderly  methods,  rather  than  swift  and 
violent  ones.  They  come  here  with  no  millenial 
expectations,  doomed  to  bitter  disappointment,  but 
simply  with  the  hope  of  gaining  by  hard  and  un- 
remitting toil  a  modest  competency.  They  demand 
less  of  life  than  the  Continental  immigrant  of  the 
corresponding  class,  and  for  this  reason  usually 
attain  more.  The  instinct  to  save  is  strong  in 
the  majority  of  them,  and  save  they  do,  when  their 
neighbors  of  less  frugal  habits  are  running  be- 
hind. The  poor  soil  of  the  Fatherland  and  the 
hardships  incident  upon  a  rough  climate  have  ac- 
customed them  to  a  struggle  for  existence  scarce- 
ly less  severe  than  that  of  the  Western  pioneer ; 
and  in  their  home  land  this  struggle  was  unil- 
luminated  by  any  hope  of  improved  conditions  for 
the  future.  The  qualities  of  perseverance,  thrift 
and  a  sturdy  sense  of  independence  which  this 
struggle  from  generation  to  generation  has  de- 
veloped are  the  very  ones  which  must  constitute 
the  cornerstone  of  an  enduring  republic." 

Lawabiding.  According  to  the  census  reports 
the  Scandinavians  have  the  best  record  of  any 
nationality  in  this  country,  either  foreign  or  na- 
tive,  in  regard  to  crimes,   insanity,  pauperism, 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  125 

deaf  and  dumb,  and  blind.  Senator  Mark  Hanna 
once  declared  it  to  be  his  personal  conviction  that 
the  best  immigrants  who  came  to  America  were 
the  Scandinavians. 

Prescot  F.  Hall,  an  authority  on  immigration, 
says  of  the  Scandinavians:  "The  most  important 
characteristics  of  the  Scandinavians  who  have 
come  in  the  past  have  been  their  attachment  to 
the  soil  and  their  tendency  to  settle  new  parts 
of  the  country.  States  like  Wisconsin,  Minnesota, 
and  the  Dakotas  were  practically  founded  by  the 
Scandinavian  immigrants.  They  assimilate  read- 
ily, take  part  in  politics,  usually  on  the  side  of 
good  government,  and  they  are  in  every  way  a 
desirable  addition  to  the  country.  Even  where 
they  enter  trades,  like  the  clothing  trade,  they 
work  under  hygienic  conditions  and  make  use  of 
machinery.  They  send  their  children  to  school 
instead  of  putting  them  into  the  shop.  They  are 
also  free  from  serious  crimes,  although  not  from 
small  misdemeanors.  They  have  no  special  ten- 
dency to  form  colonies,  and  owing  to  their  univer- 
sal education  soon  learn  English." 

Religions  characteristics.  The  Scandinavian  is 
a  religious  man.  He  has  been  educated  in  the 
things  that  pertain  to  his  spiritual  welfare.  In 
the  old  country  his  religious  education  was  just 
as  much  part  of  his  childhood  training  as  his 
secular  education.  It  was  just  as  important  for 
him  to  know  his  Bible  history  as  it  was  for  him 
to  know  the  history  of  his  country.    To  be  a  citi- 


126  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

zen  he  had  to  be  confirmed  in  the  State  Church. 
Dr.  G.  W.  Sandt  has  given  an  excellent  characteri- 
zation of  the  religion  of  the  Scandinavian  which 
we  quote:  "There  is  much  in  the  Norse  religious 
temperament  and  character  that  makes  it  a  more 
easy  prey  to  sectarianism  than  is  the  case  with 
the  more  phlegmatic  German.  There  is  a  sim- 
plicity and  guilelessness  about  it  which  is  in 
striking  contrast  with  much  American  religious 
duplicity  and  which  is  easily  taken  advantage  of. 
It  will  often  trust  itself  to  any  leadership  that 
impresses  itself  as  earnest,  sympathetic  and  sin- 
cere, and  as  the  emotional  element  plays  a  large 
part  in  the  religious  life  of  many  Scandinavians, 
sectarianism  has  an  advantage  as  over  against 
state-church  dead  orthodoxism,  that  must  be  taken 
into  serious  account.  While  there  is  an  element 
of  agility,  vivacity  and  responsiveness  in  the 
Scandinavian  character  which  is  proving  to  be  of 
great  value  to  American  Lutheranism,  this  very 
quality  often  means  the  undoing  of  Lutheranism. 
Zeal,  earnestness,  pathos  will,  as  a  rule,  appeal 
more  strongly  to  a  Scandinavian  than  it  will  to  a 
German.  As  one  of  our  Swedish  brethren  well 
said :  'The  Swede  feels  first  and  thinks  afterwards, 
whereas  the  German  thinks  first  and  then  feels.* 
It  is  this  very  characteristic  of  the  Scandinavian 
that  makes  him  often  so  responsive  to  sectarian 
appeals.  This  is  also  the  reason  why  it  is  com- 
paratively easy  to  win  him  for  the  Lutheran 
Church  when  he  sets  foot  on  American  soil." 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  127 

The  Slovaks. 

In  late  years  the  Slavic  people  from  the  eastern 
and  southeastern  parts  of  Europe  have  been  com- 
ing to  this  country  in  large  numbers.  Many  of 
them  hold  to  the  Lutheran  faith,  and  this  gives 
the  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country  another  im- 
portant Home  Mission  work. 

The  Slovak."^'  Of  the  various  Slavic  nationali- 
ties our  Church  has  been  most  successful  among 
the  Slovaks.  The  Slovaks  come  for  northern 
Hungary.  In  their  native  land  they  number 
about  two  millions  and  are  closely  akin  to  the 
Bohemians  and  Moravians.  They  constitute  the 
trunk  of  the  great  Slavonic  national  tree,  from 
which  have  branched  so  many  Slav  people,  at  the 
head  of  which  now  stands  the  powerful  Russian 
empire.  From  prehistoric  times  the  Slovaks  were 
celebrated  as  a  peaceful,  industrious  people,  fond 
of  agriculture  and  pastoral  life. 

The  first  Slovak  immigration  into  this  country 
was  from  the  agricultural  class,  and  the  settle- 
ment was  made  in  Pennsylvania.  There  are  hun- 
dreds of  Slovak  farmers  in  Pennsylvania,  Con- 
necticut and  Ohio.  In  Minnesota,  Arkansas,  Vir- 
giania,  and  Wisconsin  there  are  large  colonies 
of  them. 

The  Slovaks  have  come  to  this  country  at  the 
rate  of  38,000  a  year.    It  is  estimated  that  there 

*  We  are  indebted  to  the  writings  of  Dr.  A.  L.  Ramer  for 
much  that  we  say  about  tlie  Slovak  people. 


128  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

are  more  than  400,000  in  this  country,  with  150,- 
000  in  Pennsylvania  alone.  Two  thirds  of  these 
immigrants  are  men.  They  usually  live  in  very 
poor  and  crowded  quarters,  one  family  having 
sometimes  from  fifteen  to  twenty  boarders,  under 
conditions  far  from  cleanly  or  sanitary. 

There  are  nearly  as  many  newspapers  in  the 
United  States  in  the  Slovak  language  as  in  Hun- 
gary, with  a  much  larger  total  circulation.  The 
Slovaks  have  almost  captured  the  wire  and  tin- 
ware factories  in  this  country.  In  the  homeland 
the  Slovaks  made  the  tinware  of  Europe  for  cen- 
turies. 

They  are  a  great  people  for  organization.  The 
National  Slovonic  Society  was  organized  in  Pitts- 
burg in  1890  and  now  has  about  600  lodges.  It 
is  primarily  a  beneficial  organization,  but  has 
done  a  valuable  work  in  educating  its  members 
and  inducing  them  to  become  American  citizens. 

Professor  Steiner,  who  has  made  a  study  of 
the  Slovaks, —  their  life  and  habits  in  America — , 
states  that  they  are  considered  by  tradesmen  their 
most  honest  customers.  One  merchant  who  has 
dealt  with  them  for  twenty  years,  who  has  carried 
them  from  pay  day  to  pay  day  and  through  strikes 
and  lay-offs,  says  that  he  never  lost  a  cent  through 
them,  while  his  losses  from  other  miners  were 
from  fifteen  to  thirty-five  per  cent. 

The  Slovak  people  have  settled  chiefly  in  the 
coal  and  cement  regions  of  our  country,  but  there 
are  some  to  be  found  in  all  the  great  industrial 


THE  PEOPLE   FOR  LUTHERAN   HOME   MISSIONS  129 

centers  of  the  land.  About  one  fourth  of  the 
Slovaks  coming  to  this  country  are  illiterate. 

Religious  Condition.  Among  all  the  Slavs  the 
Slovaks  are  the  most  responsive  to  religious  in- 
fluences. It  is  estimated  that  there  are  at  least 
twenty  thousand  Lutheran  Slovaks  in  the  United 
States,  of  whom  no  less  than  ten  thousand  live 
in  Pennsylvania.  Because  of  their  foreign  lan- 
guage they  have  stood  aloof  from  our  Church, 
and  we  have  failed  to  find  them  or  even  seek 
them.  Our  largest  number  of  Lutheran  immi- 
grants at  present  is  found  among  the  Slovaks. 

Flourishing  congregations  have  been  organized 
among  them  enjoying  all  church  privileges  and 
pastoral  ministrations.  The  present  number  of 
Slovak  Lutheran  ministers  in  America  is  about 
thirty.  Sixteen  of  these  are  affiliated  with  the 
Missouri  Synod,  eight  with  the  General  Council, 
and  six  are  independent. 

In  many  localities  the  people  have  no  regular 
service.  If  there  be  a  sufficient  number  of  them 
they  secure  the  services  of  some  Slovak  minister 
to  visit  them  occasionally  and  administer  the  Holy 
Communion.  From  this  practice  a  sad  condition 
is  slowly  establishing  itself,  namely,  certain  com- 
munities seem  to  be  satisfied  with  an  annual  com- 
munion service  as  their  only  assembly  in  all  the 
year.  Many  sections  of  the  country  have  not  yet 
been  canvassed  where  it  is  reasonable  to  expect 
that  Slovak  Lutherans  are  living.  There  is  a 
Slovak  Lutheran  benevolent  association  which  has 


130  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

at  least  two  hundred  subsidiary  local  societies. 
But  not  all  our  men  belong  to  this  society,  and 
hence  it  is  hard  to  locate  them,  unless  by  an 
actual  house-to-house  canvass  in  the  foreign  quar- 
ters of  our  cities  and  mining  settlements. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Relation  of  the  Church  to  Home 
Missions. 

The  success  of  our  Home  Mission  work  depends 
upon  the  attitude  the  Church  takes  towards  it. 
Our  Home  Mission  work  will  never  make  the 
progress  it  should  until  the  whole  Church  realizes 
its  duty  towards  this  important  enterprise.  Here 
and  there  the  Church  is  awakening,  but  as  a  whole 
it  is  not  doing  its  duty.  We  have  the  opportunity 
and  we  have  the  people,  but  until  our  people  be- 
come interested  our  work  will  drag.  The  Church 
must  understand  its  relation  to  this  tremendous 
work.  The  Home  Mission  work  of  this  country 
demands  the  united  support  of  the  whole  Church. 
Every  congregation  has  a  duty  to  Home  Mission 
work,  and  it  should  know  that  duty  and  should 
strive  to  fulfil  it.  Anything  that  will  speed  the  day 
when  every  congregation  shall  be  interested  in 
Home  Missions,  will  hasten  the  day  when  the 
Church  can  more  fully  do  its  Home  Mission  work. 


132  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

The  Church  has  the  only  Instruments  through 

ivhich  Home  Missions  can  be  Promoted, 

— the  Mean^  of  Gr-ace. 

Our  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  knows  of 
no  means  of  bringing  men  into  the  kingdom  of 
God  other  than  the  means  of  grace — the  Word  of 
God  and  the  Sacraments.  These  means  are  the 
only  effective  ones,  and  these  means  the  Church 
possesses.  Home  Mission  work  is  not  a  socio- 
logical propaganda.  Its  object  it  not  to  alleviate 
physical,  but  spiritual  conditions.  Home  Missions 
aim  at  touching  men's  hearts  through  the  Word 
of  God  and  bringing  them  to  a  consciousness  of 
their  sin  and  their  need  of  a  Saviour,  seeking 
the  spiritual  welfare  first,  and  afterwards  allevi- 
ating worldly  conditions.  In  all  spiritual  en- 
deavor God  has  limited  us  to  the  means  of  grace. 
These  the  Church  has  in  its  possession,  and  it 
must  use  them.  The  instruments  in  the  hands  of 
the  Church  for  carrying  on  its  Home  Mission 
work  are  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  the 
administration  of  the  Sacraments.  Everything 
else  is  only  an  aid  and  not  real  means.  God  has 
given  to  the  Church  these  means  and  it  is  to  use 
them  in  its  aggressive  campaign  for  saving  souls. 

In  limiting  the  Church  to  the  preaching  of  the 
Word  and  the  administration  of  the  Sacraments 
God  has  not  curtailed  its  power  but  has  given 
it  a  definite  program.  Suppose  for  a  moment  that 
He  had  not  given  the  Church  this  definite  pro- 


THE    CHURCH    AND    HOME    MISSIONS  133 

gram,  what  a  medley  of  methods  we  would  have. 
One  missionary  would  be  trying  this  and  another 
that,  each  without  success.  But  God  has  fore- 
stalled such  work  by  giving  the  Church  definite 
means  and  a  distinct  program. 

The  Church  is  imcler  OhUgations  to  Spread  these 
Means. 

Having  thus  intrusted  the  Church  with  the 
means  of  grace  God  has  laid  it  under  obligations 
to  use  them.  When  the  Church  neglects  to  preach 
the  Word  and  administer  the  Sacraments,  then 
it  is  unfaithful  to  its  trust.  In  His  great  commis- 
sion the  Saviour  distinctly  charged  His  disciples 
to  preach  the  Gospel  "to  the  lost  sheep  of  the 
house  of  Israel."  This  commission  is  binding 
upon  the  Church  to-day.  The  Lutheran  Church 
must  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  scattered  brethren 
of  its  own  household,  or  it  is  unfaithful  to  that 
commission.  When  the  Church  fails  to  do  its 
Home  Mission  work  it  fails  to  carry  out  the  divine 
commission  of  its  Lord.  The  Church  is  under 
obligation  to  spread  the  means  of  grace  through 
its  Home  Mission  agencies. 

The  Church  has  the  Necessary  Requirements 
within  Itself. 

The  Lord  never  yet  gave  a  work  to  any 
Church  that  He  did  not  at  the  same  time  give  it 
the  ability  to  carry  on  that  work.  God  has  given 
the  Lutheran  Church  a  great  Home  Mission  work 


134  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

and  He  has  given  it  the  necessary  equipments 
with  which  to  carry  on  this  work.  The  Home 
Mission  propaganda  requires  men  and  money,  and 
our  Church  has  both.  Statistics  show  that,  in 
proportion  to  its  membership,  the  Lutheran 
Church  has  more  men  attending  its  services  than 
any  other  Protestant  body  in  the  land.  We  have 
the  men,  but  the  trouble  has  been  that  they  have 
not  given  themselves  to  the  work.  The  Church 
never  can  do  its  Home  Mission  work  until  more 
men  enter  the  ministry.  The  great  dearth  of  men 
for  the  ministry  has  hindered  the  Home  Mission 
work.  The  men  of  our  Church  must  be  aroused 
so  that  they  will  consecrate  their  manhood  on  the 
altar  of  God's  service  and  go  out  and  preach  the 
Gospel  to  the  thousands  of  their  brethren  who  are 
yet  without  the  ministrations  of  our  Church. 

Not  only  does  our  Church  have  the  men  but 
it  has  the  money.  There  was  a  time  when  the 
Lutheran  Church  was  poor,  but  that  time  has 
passed.  The  members  of  our  Church  are  just  as 
thrifty  as  the  members  of  any  other  Church  and 
they  have  in  their  possession  the  means  for  con- 
ducting our  Home  Mission  work.  But  as  yet  they 
have  not  learned  to  consecrate  their  means  to  the 
work  of  the  Lord.  If  the  Lutheran  people  of  this 
country  would  give  to  the  cause  of  Home  Missions 
as  they  are  able  to  give,  our  Church  could  do 
five  or  ten  times  more  Home  Mission  work  than 
it  is  now  doing.  There  is  no  lack  of  means,  but 
there  is  lack  of  consecration.     Until  our  people 


THE   CHURCH    AND    HOME    MISSIONS  135 

do  consecrate  more  of  their  worldly  possessions 
to  the  cause,  the  work  of  Home  Missions  will  be 
retarded.  May  God  speed  the  day  when  the 
money  will  be  forthcoming  to  send  out  more  la- 
borers into  our  great  Home  Mission  field. 

The  Relation  of  the  Local  Congregation  to  Home 
Missions. 

Undoubtedly  the  local  congregation  holds  the 
key  to  the  whole  Home  Mission  situation.  When 
the  congregations  fail  to  do  their  duty,  then 
the  Church  fails.  If  the  cause  of  Home  Mis- 
sions is  to  be  advanced,  the  congregations  must 
be  instructed  and  interested.  Every  congrega- 
tion has  a  duty  towards  Home  Missions,  and 
it  must  fulfil  that  duty.  The  work  of  Home  Mis- 
sions has  been  before  our  Church  for  more  than 
fifty  years,  and  yet  many  of  our  congregations  do 
little  or  nothing  for  this  cause.  The  time  has 
come  when  the  local  congregation  must  be  made 
to  see  its  duty,  held  responsible  for  that  duty, 
and  be  censured  when  it  does  not  fulfil  that  duty. 
The  day  of  small  things  is  passed.  The  era  of 
large  enterprises  is  upon  us.  The  time  has  come 
when  team  work,  instead  of  individual  effort, 
counts.  Our  congregations  must  learn  to  do  team 
work.  They  must  learn  that  when  one  fails  to 
do  its  duty,  then  the  whole  effort  of  the  Church  is 
crippled.  Each  local  congregation  must  take  its 
place  in  this  great  engagement  and  must  strive 
manfully.    Only  when  every  congregation  does  its 


136  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

duty  can  it  be  said  that  the  Church  it  putting 
forth  its  best  effort  at  this  work. 

It  should  Have  a  Pastor  Interested  in  Home 
Missions. 

The  interest  and  liberality  of  a  congregation 
depends,  to  a  very  large  degree,  upon  the  pas- 
tor. When  he  properly  instructs  the  congre- 
gation about  the  needs,  and  appeals  for  aid,  the 
people  will  respond,  but  when  he  is  silent  they  are 
not  responsive.  The  pastor  can  open  or  close  the 
door  of  Home  Mission  effort  in  the  congregation. 
We  quote  Rev.  B.  Sadtler :  "It  is  folly  to  look  for 
results  if  the  pastors  do  not  come  to  the  aid  of 
their  secretaries  or  superintendents  by  keeping 
their  flocks  informed  as  to  the  magnitude  of  the 
work.  I  am  afraid  some  pastors  reason  that  if  a 
superintendent  is  appointed,  that  ends  their  re- 
sponsibility ;  it  is  his  business  to  plant  and  foster 
the  missions.  Over  forty  years  of  observation 
in  our  ministry  have  shown  me  that  where  our 
churches  have  been  rightly  instructed  they  are 
as  liberal  and  as  responsive  to  proper  appeals  as 
those  of  any  other  name.  No  one  has  the  right 
to  call  our  people  niggard  and  stingy,  when  they 
have  been  properly  taught,  by  word  and  example, 
by  their  pastors  as  to  the  claims  of  Christ's  king- 
dom upon  their  purses.  I  have  in  my  mind's  eye 
a  church  whose  pastor  never  asked  for  a  collection 
for  any  benevolent  purpose,  and  when  he  went  to 
synod,  he  paid  the  contribution  to  its  treasury 


THE   CHURCH    AND    HOME    MISSIONS  137 

— ten  whole  dollars — out  of  his  own  pocket.  That 
was  fifty  years  ago.  Last  year  that  same  church 
contributed  over  $7,000  to  the  causes  of  education 
and  missions.  The  truth  is,  the  pulpit  is  generally 
more  to  blame  than  the  pew  when  the  benevolence 
money  gleans  in  but  here  and  there  an  ear,  in- 
stead of  sheaves."  When  a  pastor  is  interested 
in  Home  Missions,  his  congregation  will  also  be 
interested.  But  when  he  takes  no  interest,  then 
his  congregation  will  show  the  same  spirit.  Every 
congregation  should  have  a  pastor  who  is  inter- 
ested in  Home  Missions. 

It  should  he  Informed  on  the  Subject. 

No  congregation  will  respond  to  a  cause  it 
knows  nothing  about.  Our  congregations  need  to 
be  thoroughly  informed  about  Home  Missions. 
Home  Mission  services  and  festivals  should  be  held 
in  every  church  frequently.  Home  Mission  work- 
ers should  be  invited  to  speak  in  every  church  as 
often  as  possible.  The  needs  and  opportunities  of 
the  work  must  be  made  known  to  the  people  and 
must  be  impressed  upon  them  as  vividly  as  pos- 
sible. One  reason  our  Home  Mission  work  has 
been  slow  is  that  our  people  have  been  ignorant 
about  it.  We  have  depended  upon  our  church 
papers  to  inform  the  people,  when  the  papers 
reach  only  a  very  small  part  of  the  total  member- 
ship. In  late  years  a  feeble  effort  to  produce  Home 
Mission  literature  has  been  made,  but  it  has  been 
a  very  feeble  one.     An  educational  propaganda 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  10 


138  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

must  be  inaugurated  in  each  congregation.  When 
every  member  of  every  congregation  is  thoroughly 
informed,  then  our  people  will  respond  with  a 
liberality  undreamed  of  before. 

It  should  have  an  Interest  in  a  Particular 
Mission. 

Experience  shows  that  when  a  congregation 
has  an  interest  in  a  special  mission  it  does  much 
more  for  the  work.  It  is  our  firm  conviction  that 
every  Lutheran  congregation  should  have  a  mis- 
sion congregation  as  its  special  charge.  We  quote 
from  an  article  written  by  some  one  who  signs 
himself  "ex-missionary."  "Why  do  we  so  largely 
fail  in  our  efforts  to  interest  our  congregations 
in  mission  work?  We  lay  the  great  work  before 
them;  we  tell  them  of  pressing  needs;  of  thou- 
sands, if  not  millions,  of  Lutherans  who  are  as 
sheep  without  a  shepherd;  of  great  cities  and 
growing  towns  where  mission  work  must  be  be- 
gun; of  the  great  future  that  lies  before  the  Lu- 
theran Church  in  this  country,  if  she  will  but 
grasp  her  opportunity;  and  when  our  speech  is 
ended  we  observe  in  a  few  instances  an  increase 
of  missionary  zeal,  an  increase  in  the  offerings 
perhaps,  along  with  considerable  faultfinding  be- 
cause the  pastor  has  been  begging  for  somebody 
with  whom  they  as  individuals  have  nothing  to  do. 

Now  our  mistake  is  not  that  we  give  our  people 
too  much  of  such  information,  but  rather  the  re- 
verse; nor  is  it  that  we  do  not  sufficiently  urge 


THE   CHURCH    AND    HOME    MISSIOAS  139 

our  congregations  to  give — there  are  perhaps 
more  cases  where  giving  is  unwisely  urged  than 
where  it  is  wisely  urged — our  mistake  is  that  we 
do  not  seek  to  interest  our  congregations  in  some 
specific  mission  work.  Now,  how  can  this  be 
done  ?  The  plan  I  have  to  suggest  would  in  a  large 
measure  necessitate  a  change  of  method  in  mis- 
sion work  and  for  that  reason  would  not  be  ex- 
pected to  commend  itself  very  strongly  to  the 
judgment  of  all  before  it  could  be  adopted.  The 
change,  however,  would  be  a  simple  one. 

The  plan.  1.  Let  every  congregation  be  ex- 
pected to  make  up  a  small  apportionment  for 
general  Home  Mission  work.  2.  Then  let  each 
congregation  be  expected  to  support  or  aid  in 
supporting  some  particular  mission  under  a  sys- 
tem of  well-defined  regulations. 

The  benefits.  1.  It  will  greatly  increase  the 
interest  in  mission  work.  It  is  well  known  how 
much  deeper  an  interest  is  manifested  when  the 
appeal  is  specific  rather  than  general.  Let  us 
suppose  a  case:  The  pastor  informs  his  people 
that  there  are  a  dozen  or  more  missionaries  in 
as  many  important  cities  whose  salaries  must  be 
paid  and  their  work  supported.  He  then  grows 
eloquent  on  the  importance  of  the  work  they  are 
doing  and  tells  of  the  disasters  that  must  follow 
if  their  work  is  not  properly  sustained.  Of  course 
the  people  will  respond.  They  must.  It  is  a 
Christian  duty.  How  can  they  get  out  of  it? 
But  so  far  as  genuine  interest  in  the  work  is 


140  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

concerned  they  have  made  no  perceptible  advance. 
Mission  work  has  not  sufficiently  been  brought 
home  to  them.  The  appeal  is  too  general.  They 
drop  their  dollar  or  so  into  the  plate,  and  then  it 
becomes  lost  in  the  general  treasury,  and  they 
can  follow  it  no  further.  What  a  gain  it  would 
be  to  them  in  the  way  of  heartfelt  interest  if 
they  could  follow  their  dollar  to  some  particular 
spot  and  could  see  it  in  the  shape  of  bread  on 
some  missionary's  table  or  brick  and  mortar  or 
timber  in  some  modest  chapel  ? 

Now  let  us  suppose  another  case:  The  pastor 
informs  his  people  that  in  a  certain  town  or  city 
of  great  or  growing  importance  there  are  multi- 
tudes of  Lutherans  uncared  for.  Immediate  ac- 
tion is  imperative.  While  other  denominations 
with  not  half  the  prospects  before  them  are  build- 
ing handsome  churches  or  chapels  and  manning 
them,  we  are  doing  nothing.  The  guardianship 
of  Lutheran  interests  in  this  town  or  city  has 
been  assigned  to  this  congregation  (or  these  con- 
gregations, as  the  case  may  be)  by  the  executive 
committee,  and  you  are  expected  to  push  the 
work  with  all  possible  energy.  This  will  be  your 
special  task  in  Home  Mission  work. 

What  will  be  the  result?  A  new  interest  has 
been  aroused.  Home  Missions  is  no  longer  a  gen- 
eral or  indefinite  matter,  it  has  been  brought 
home  to  them.  They  know  the  city,  the  pastor, 
and  the  name  of  the  congregation  whose  cause 
they  are  to  espouse.    They  can  not  take  refuge  in 


THE    CHURCH    AND    HOME    MISSIONS  141 

the  woods  (behind  more  liberal  and  active  con- 
gregations) ;  they  have  assumed  an  individual 
rather  than  a  corporate  or  synodical  responsibili- 
ty. They  have  adopted  a  child  and  will  naturally 
become  more  deeply  interested  in  it  than  they 
would  in  an  Orphans'  Home.  They  will  hear  what 
other  congregations  are  doing  in  other  fields  and 
be  stimulated  to  greater  exertions.  Their  ener- 
gies have  been  focused  upon  some  one  point  and 
their  work  will  tell  in  such  a  way  that  they  can 
see  it  and  follow  it. 

2.  It  would  greatly  increase  the  contributions. 
This  follows  from  what  has  already  been  said. 
Increase  interest  and  you  increase  liberality. 

3.  It  would  prove  a  wonderful  support  to  the 
struggling  missionary.  It  may  safely  be  said  that 
one  half  the  ministers  of  the  synod  know  little  or 
nothing  of  the  soul-depressing  force  that  springs 
from  the  consciousness  of  being  alone  and  insuf- 
ficient in  a  work  of  overwhelming  importance .  . .  • 
Let  the  missionary  feel  that  there  is  some  one 
to  whom  he  can  go  in  his  troubles.  Give  him  a 
sure  retreat.  Let  him  know  that  there  is  a  con- 
gregation, or  more,  who  are  the  sponsors  of  the 
little  mission  to  whom  he  can  make  known  his 
wants  and  with  whom  he  can  consult  on  the  terms 
of  intimacy  as  with  a  father.  His  requests,  of 
course,  will  always  seem  extravagant  and  will 
seldom  be  granted  in  full,  but  he  has  this  con- 
solation— he  does  not  stand  alone,  some  one,  to 
whom  he  can  write,  or  with  whom  he  can  con- 


142  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

verse  and  unburden  himself,  is  championing  his 
cause." 

It  should  Send  its  Pastor  to  Visit  the  Home 
Mission  Field. 

If  the  local  congregation  thus  takes  up  a  mis- 
sion congregation  as  its  special  charge,  then  it 
should  send  its  pastor  to  visit  that  mission.  In 
this  way  a  living  contact  will  be  established  be- 
tween mother  and  child.  But  if  a  congregation 
has  not  assumed  the  support  of  a  mission,  it 
should  send  its  pastor  through  the  Home  Mission 
field.  In  this  way  he  will  personally  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  work  and  will  be  more  able 
to  talk  and  preach  upon  the  subject.  When  pas- 
tors have  first  hand  knowledge  of  the  mission 
situation,  then  they  can  speak  with  understanding 
and  authority.  One  home  missionary,  who  had 
been  on  the  field  for  a  long  time,  says  of  this 
plan :  "I  know  of  nothing  that  would  give  such  an 
impetus  to  our  Home  Mission  work  here  in  the 
Northwest,  and  all  over  the  Union  for  that  mat- 
ter, than  that  the  head  of  each  congregation 
should  thus  acquaint  himself  with  the  great  needs 
of  the  Church." 

Many  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  congregations 
have  the  custom  of  sending  their  pastors  on  vaca- 
tions to  visit  the  mission  congregations,  preach 
to  them  and  encourage  them.  That  this  is  a  good 
custom  is  shown  from  the  way  the  Swedes  have 
been   succeeding  in   their  Home   Mission   work. 


THE   CHURCH   AND   HOME   MISSIONS  143 

Occasionally  some  of  our  other  congregations  have 
done  this,  and  it  invariably  has  produced  an  en- 
thusiasm for  Home  Missions.  We  wish  the  day 
w^as  at  hand  when  every  pastor  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  knew  the  Home  Mission  field  from  per- 
sonal investigation.  When  the  day  comes  that 
our  pastors  can  study  the  field  with  their  own 
eyes,  then  the  time  will  quickly  come  when  our 
churches  will  supply  all  the  men  and  means  that 
are  needed.  The  congregation  that  sends  its  pas- 
tor to  study  the  work  on  the  field  does  a  great 
work  for  Home  Missions. 

It  should  have  a  Missionary  Society. 

We  take  it  for  granted  that  every  Lutheran 
congregation  gives  to  the  cause  of  Home  Mis- 
sions through  the  apportionment  system  and  by 
direct  gifts.  But  this  is  not  enough.  It  should 
have  a  missionary  society.  This  society  can 
be  of  great  service  to  the  mission  cause  and 
to  the  congregation.  This  society  should  give 
much  time  to  the  study  of  Home  Missions.  It 
should  endeavor  to  interest  the  whole  congrega- 
tion in  missions.  Usually  the  spirit  of  this  so- 
ciety is  the  missionary  spirit  of  the  congregation. 
It  is  possible  for  such  a  society  to  take  up  some 
special  work  on  the  Home  Mission  field.  Here  is 
an  opportunity  for  every  congregation  to  come 
into  living  contact  with  the  work  of  Home  Mis- 
sions. In  this  society  the  pastor  will  be  the  chief 
factor.    He  must  direct  its  studies  and  its  energy. 


144  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

He  can  make  it  useful  or  useless.  We  will  gladly 
hail  the  day  when  our  congregations  everywhere 
will  have  missionary  societies  which  are  studying 
the  Home  Mission  situation,  for  this  will  mean 
interest  and  support. 

The  Sunday-school  and  Home  Missions. 

While  we  lament  the  inactivity  in  the  past, 
there  is  a  door  of  hope.  This  inactivity  can  be 
remedied  through  the  Sunday-school.  The  rising 
generation  is  ready  to  be  taught  the  great  needs, 
and  when  taught  it  will  respond.  There  is  no 
place  where  the  Home  Mission  spirit  can  be  quick- 
ened more  readily  than  in  the  Sunday-school.  The 
children  welcome  the  story  of  Home  Missions  and 
they  respond  with  a  wholeheartedness  that  is  in- 
spiring. The  Sunday-school  can  be  made  the  right 
arm  of  Home  Mission  work  in  the  congregation. 
The  best  way  to  reach  the  school  is  through  the 
regular  teachers.  Occasional  addresses  and  serv- 
ices are  good,  but  the  teachers  must  be  set  to 
teaching  Home  Missions.  They  must  set  definitely 
before  the  children  the  missionary  idea.  They 
should  give  prominence  in  their  teaching  to  the 
subject  of  Home  Missions.  The  teachers  should 
cultivate  the  habit  of  illustrating  truth  with  facts 
and  incidents  taken  from  the  Home  Mission  field. 
Of  course  the  habit  of  giving  to  Home  Missions 
should  be  cultivated  in  the  school.  The  future  of 
the  Church  lies  with  the  Sunday-school,  and  the 
future  of  our  Home  Mission  work  depends  upon 


THE   CHURCH    AND    HOME    MISSIONS  145 

the  interest  we  can  arouse  in  the  rising  genera- 
tion, and  the  place  to  reach  that  generation  is  in 
the  school. 

The  Theological  Seminary  and  Home  Missions. 

It  may  indeed  seem  strange,  but  most  of  our 
seminaries  have  forgotten  to  teach  Home  Mis- 
sions. We  know  of  only  one  seminary  in  the  land 
that  makes  any  attempt  at  having  a  regular 
course  of  study  on  the  subject.  When  even  our 
pastors  are  not  taught  Home  Missions,  can  we 
wonder  that  our  people  know  so  little  about  it? 
It  is  not  our  purpose  to  tell  the  seminaries  what 
they  should  do,  but  surely  they  have  a  duty  in 
this  matter.  They  have  courses  of  study  on  For- 
eign and  Inner  missions,  and  surely  they  should 
give  Home  Missions  a  place  in  their  curriculums. 
It  is  our  opinion  that  the  seminary  that  does  not 
have  a  regular  course  of  study  on  Home  Missions 
is  not  educating  the  future  pastors  of  the  Church 
as  it  should.  The  Church  is  demanding  missio- 
nary pastors,  and  it  is  the  duty  of  the  seminary 
to  train  them  and  supply  the  demand. 

Besides  a  regular  course  of  study  the  seminary 
could  provide  lectures  on  the  subject.  Missionary 
workers  who  understand  the  work  should  be  in- 
vited to  speak  to  the  students.  This  would  give 
the  students  the  benefit  of  the  experience  of  those 
in  the  work,  and  would  bring  the  seminary  and 
Home  Missions  together  in  a  happy  manner. 

The   seminary   could   establish   a   museum   of 


146  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

Home  Missions,  relics  from  the  pioneers,  pictures 
of  the  early  buildings  and  of  present  churches 
which  were  once  missions,  illustrations  of  chapels, 
etc.,  would  do  much  towards  creating  a  missio- 
nary enthusiasm. 

The  students  should  have  opportunity  to  do 
Home  Missionary  work  under  the  supervision  of 
the  seminary.  In  this  way  they  would  become 
acquainted  with  the  work  and  would  be  able  to 
instruct  and  lead  their  churches  when  they  be- 
come pastors. 

The  Religious  Press  and  Home  Missions. 

The  religious  press  can  be  a  powerful  adjunct  to 
Home  Missions.  Through  its  correspondence  and 
articles  it  can  keep  the  work  before  the  public  and 
thus  create  an  interest.  Our  Church  is  now  pro- 
ducing a  few  good  Home  Mission  papers,  but  the 
church  papers  in  general  should  give  Home  Mis- 
sions a  wide  space  in  their  columns. 


^^^^^ 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
Home  Mission  Forces. 

The  Home  Mission  Board  and  Superintendent. 
The  Home  Mission  Board. 

At  the  head  of  all  Home  Mission  work  stands 
the  Home  Mission  Board.  It  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  have  a  board  to  direct  and  control  the 
work  of  Home  Missions.  In  the  early  days  the 
work  was  carried  on  without  a  board,  but  it  could 
not  be  done  that  way  now.  To  be  successful, 
Home  Mission  work  must  be  organized.  The  bet- 
ter organized  the  board  is,  the  better  work  it 
will  do. 

Its  Organization. 
The  various  synods  have  different  ways  of  ap- 
pointing their  Home  Mission  boards.  Invariab- 
ly the  board  is  a  creature  of  the  synod,  and  is 
amenable  to  the  synod.  So  far  as  we  know,  there 
never  has  been  an  independent  Home  Missionary 
agency  in  this  country.  It  is  well  that  there  have 
been  no  such  agencies.     Home  Mission  work  is 


148  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

the  work  of  the  Church  as  a  whole,  and  should 
be  carried  on  by  the  whole  Church.  An  indepen- 
dent board  could  not  do  the  work,  because  it  could 
not  appeal  to  the  Church  as  a  whole  for  moral 
and  financial  support. 

The  success  or  failure  of  Home  Mission  work 
depends  upon  the  board,  consequently  its  organi- 
zation is  of  the  highest  importance.  The  very 
best  men  of  the  Church  should  be  selected  to  serve 
on  this  board.  Men  with  vision  and  inspiration 
are  indispensable  to  its  success.  The  members  of 
this  board  must  be  men  with  enthusiasm  and 
faith,  men  with  an  outlook  as  broad  as  the  nation 
and  as  long  as  eternity  itself.  Nothing  is  so 
detrimental  to  Home  Mission  work  as  provincia- 
lism. To  have  a  board  that  cannot  see  farther 
than  the  boundaries  of  a  local  synod  or  given  ter- 
ritory is  unfortunate.  In  the  past  too  little  atten- 
tion has  been  paid  by  the  Church  to  the  selection 
of  the  members  of  the  Home  Mission  board.  Too 
often  it  has  been  thought  that  all  that  was  neces- 
sary was  to  have  a  good  leader.  A  good  leader 
is  necessary,  but  what  can  a  leader  do  when  his 
comrades  refuse  to  follow?  The  time  has  come 
when  the  best  clergymen  and  the  best  laymen  in 
the  Church  must  serve  on  the  Home  Mission 
board.  Nothing  short  of  the  best  will  do.  There 
is  no  work  in  the  Church  of  this  country  which 
demands  the  attention  that  Home  Missions  de- 
mand. To  direct  this  work  properly  will  take 
the  wisdom  and  experience  of  the  best  men  of 


HOME   MISSION   FORCES  149 

the  Church.  The  future  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
is  in  the  hands  of  its  Home  Mission  boards,  and 
surely  these  boards  should  be  composed  of  the 
very  best  men  the  Church  has. 

The  General  Council  has  developed  a  happy 
plan  in  organizing  its  English  Home  Mission 
board.  Seven  members  are  elected  by  the  Council 
and  one  member  by  each  synod  that  is  affiliated 
in  the  work.  This  gives  representation,  outlook 
and  stability  to  the  board  and  has  proven  to  be 
the  best  way.  The  members  at  large  will  keep 
the  work  from  becoming  local,  and  the  synodical 
representatives  will  see  to  it  that  no  section  is 
overlooked.  This  method  does  not  limit  the  mem- 
bership of  the  board  but  increases  it  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  of  affiliated  synods. 

Its  Outlook  and  Grasp  of  the  Situation. 

It  is  impossible  for  the  Church  as  a  whole  to 
study  the  Home  Mission  situation  at  first  hand. 
This  work  it  delgates  to  the  board.  The  progress 
of  the  whole  enterprise  will  depend  upon  the  abil- 
ity of  the  board  to  get  and  give  a  proper  out- 
look. Let  the  board  have  a  narrow  vision,  and 
its  efforts  will  be  feeble  and  the  results  will  be 
correspondingly  small.  But  let  the  board  have  a 
broad  outlook  and  a  hopeful  grasp  of  the  situa- 
tion, and  the  work  will  go  forward  by  leaps  and 
bounds. 

Not  only  must  the  board  have  a  broad  outlook 
but  it  must  have  a  firm  grasp  of  the  situation. 


150  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

It  may  be  that  the  board  has  the  necessary  vision 
but  it  is  incapable  of  putting  to  work  forces  that 
will  bring  the  vision  into  reality.  The  real  test 
of  the  board  lies  just  here.  A  board  with  a  vision 
but  incapable  of  reducing  that  vision  to  reality, 
is  an  inefficient  board.  The  outlook  is  easy  to 
get,  but  the  practical  ability  of  carrying  on  the 
work  in  an  effective  manner  is  altogether  another 
thing. 

A  proper  outlook  and  a  firm  grasp  of  the  situ- 
ation demand  experts  in  the  work  of  Home  Mis- 
sions. Up  to  this  time  the  Church  has  produced 
few  experts.  In  order  to  get  the  right  outlook 
and  grasp  of  the  situation  the  boards  must  set 
men  to  investigating  and  studying  conditions.  We 
are  happy  to  say  that  a  beginning  has  been  made, 
but  sorry  that  the  Church  delayed  so  long. 

The  Board  of  English  Home  Missions  of  the 
General  Council  has  devised  a  plan  of  field  workers 
which  is  proving  very  successful.  This  board  has 
field  missionaries  and  district  superintendents 
who  look  after  the  work.  The  field  missionary 
is  a  man  trained  in  Home  Mission  work  who  stud- 
ies the  field,  begins  the  work,  and  brings  it  up  to 
the  point  where  a  settled  pastor  can  be  called. 
The  success  of  this  system  has  been  astonishing 
and  promises  much  more  for  the  future.  In  this 
way  the  early  struggles  of  a  mission  are  directed 
by  a  man  who  has  had  experience,  and  who  knows 
the  difficulties  and  how  to  handle  them.  The 
Church  needs  more  such  men.    Such  men  will  be 


HOME    MISSION   FORCES  151 

able  to  grasp  the  situation  and  help  the  board  to 
carry  forward  the  work  in  an  intelligent  manner. 

Its  Mission  Policy. 

The  mission  policy  of  the  board  will  be  deter- 
mined by  its  outlook  and  grasp  of  the  situation. 
The  policy  it  pursues  will  determine  the  results 
to  be  accomplished.  In  the  past  too  many  of  our 
boards  have  pauperized  the  missions.  They  have 
gone  on  the  assumption  that  they  were  to  conduct 
a  mission  work  in  a  certain  locality  instead  of 
aiding  and  encouraging  the  people  in  that  locality 
to  conduct  a  mission  work.  But  years  of  exper- 
ience have  taught  us  that  it  is  not  good  policy 
to  give  too  much  financial  aid  to  a  mission.  That 
policy  which  helps  a  mission  to  help  itself  is  the 
best  policy. 

Not  only  in  the  matter  of  aid  but  in  the  matter 
of  supervision  is  the  policy  of  the  board  import- 
ant. The  rule  has  been,  a  maximum  of  aid  with 
a  minimum  of  supervision,  but  experience  has 
shown  that  exactly  the  opposite  is  the  correct 
policy.  A  minimum  of  aid  with  a  maximum  of 
supervision  produces  the  quickest,  largest  and 
most  lasting  results.  As  a  rule  the  membership 
of  a  mission  is  composed  of  people  with  very  lit- 
tle experience  in  conducting  congregational  ac- 
tivity, and  consequently  they  need  careful  shep- 
herding. The  missionary  pastor  is  supposed  to 
do  this  shepherding,  but  occasions  arise  time  and 
again  when  the  board  must  explain  and  adjust 


152  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

matters.  Since  our  mission  boards  are  more 
carefully  supervising  the  missions,  more  progress 
is  being  made. 

Of  course,  the  board  dare  not  assume  the  atti- 
tude of  dictator.  It  is  the  function  of  the  board 
to  lead  and  aid,  not  to  drive.  A  policy  that  cre- 
ates confidence  and  begets  mutual  friendliness 
between  the  board,  the  mission,  and  the  mission- 
ary pastor  is  the  only  policy  that  can  be  followed. 

Its  Method  of  Finance. 

Outlook  and  policy  amount  to  little  unless  the 
board  has  funds  with  which  to  carry  out  its 
plans.  It  takes  large  sums  of  money  to  carry  on 
mission  work.  A  board  without  funds  is  like  a 
locomotive  without  steam,  incapable  of  making 
progress.  The  amount  of  support  given  to  the 
board  by  the  Church  determines  the  amount  of 
missionary  work  that  is  to  be  done.  Hence  the 
financial  support  of  the  board  is  of  the  greatest 
importance. 

Formerly  most  of  our  boards  had  no  definite 
income.  They  had  to  depend  upon  the  voluntary 
gifts  of  the  people,  and  the  amount  of  that  offer- 
ing was  very  uncertain.  Such  a  method  of  finance 
impeded  the  work.  It  was  impossible  to  under- 
take an  aggressive  campaign  for  Home  Missions, 
not  knowing  whether  the  board  would  have  the 
money  to  bring  such  a  campaign  to  a  successful 
finish.  It  was  not  infrequent  for  the  missionary 
pastor  to  have  to  leave  his  field  of  labor  and  go 


HOME   MISSION    FORCES  153 

out  among  the  congregations  and  solicit  aid  for 
his  mission.  Such  a  method  proved  disastrous  to 
the  mission  and  disheartening  to  the  missionary. 

Its  Support  from  the  Church. 

The  success  of  the  board  depends  upon  the 
financial  support  it  has.  This  support  must  come 
from  the  Church  at  large.  The  board  cannot  rely 
upon  funds  from  a  few  individuals,  a  few  con- 
gregations, or  even  a  few  synods.  The  whole 
Church  must  support  the  board.  Every  Lutheran 
congregation  in  the  land  should  give  a  regularly 
stipulated  amount  for  Home  Mission  work. 

To  secure  this  support  the  Church  must  be 
made  to  understand  the  importance  of  the  work. 
A  flood  of  literature  and  a  campaign  of  informa- 
tion will  be  necessary  to  educate  the  membership 
of  the  Church  so  that  it  will  respond  liberally. 
Thus  far  the  support  of  the  Church  has  not  been 
adequate  to  the  needs.  It  is  a  good  sign  when 
the  boards  begin  to  produce  a  Home  Mission 
literature.  Some  of  our  boards  have  made  com- 
mendable beginnings,  but  much  remains  to  be 
done.  Home  Mission  work  will  lag  until  the 
boards  get  the  hearty  support  of  the  whole 
Church.  Anything  that  will  hasten  the  day  when 
that  full  support  shall  be  given  will  be  a  godsend 
to  the  cause  of  Home  Missions. 

Since  the  introduction  of  the  apportionment 
system  in  most  of  the  synods,  the  Home  Mission 
boards  have  a  definite  appropriation  which  they 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  ii 


154  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

can  depend  upon.  Usually  the  sum  is  far  too 
small,  but  this  is  a  decided  advance  over  the  old 
way.  The  problem  now  confronting  most  of  the 
Home  Mission  boards  is  to  arouse  the  Church  so 
that  there  will  be  a  liberal  response  to  the  needs. 
The  liberality  of  the  Church  is  not  in  proportion 
to  the  needs  of  the  work.  Many  boards  resort  to 
other  methods  in  order  to  increase  their  funds. 
Campaigns  and  itineraries  are  used  to  spread  in- 
formation and  swell  the  funds.  These  are  good 
for  the  time  being,  but  as  permanent  methods  they 
will  not  do.  The  Home  Mission  board  must  be  on 
a  firm  financial  basis  if  it  is  to  do  the  work  which 
the  Church  has  given  it  to  do.  It  is  the  duty  of 
every  congregation  to  support  the  board  liberally. 

Its  Attitude  towards  hidividual  Missions. 

The  relation  between  the  board  and  the  indi- 
vidual mission  is  important.  There  must  be  a 
perfect  understanding  between  the  two.  Mutual 
fellowship  and  confidence  are  the  secrets  of  suc- 
cess. The  individual  mission  does  not  exist  to  be 
maintained  by  the  board,  nor  does  the  board  exist 
to  lord  its  authority  over  the  mission.  The  board 
exists  for  the  purpose  of  helping  the  mission  to 
become  a  Lelf-sustaining  congregation,  and  the 
mission  must  relieve  the  board  of  its  support  as 
soon  as  possible.  In  the  past  some  mission 
boards  have  supported  mission  congregations  for 
twenty  or  thirty  years.  Under  ordinary  circum- 
stances this  should  not  be  done.    From  the  very 


HOME   MISSION   FORCES  155 

beginning  the  mission  should  look  forward  to 
the  day  when  it  shall  become  independent  of  the 
board,  and  the  board  should  help  the  mission  in 
that  endeavor. 

It  often  happens  that  the  support  of  the  board 
is  too  meager,  and  instead  of  helping  the  mission 
it  retards  it.  To  give  a  mission  only  enough 
support  to  keep  it  alive  is  suicidal.  Far  better 
let  the  mission  die  an  early  death  than  to  prolong 
its  miserable  existence.  The  wisest  discretion  is 
needed  in  dealing  with  the  individual  missions. 

Not  infrequently  the  mission  gets  the  impres- 
sion that  the  board  is  not  aiding  it  as  it  should. 
This  notion  arises  often,  not  because  the  board 
is  not  doing  its  part,  but  because  the  mission 
itself  does  not  have  the  proper  conception  of  the 
relation  of  the  board  to  the  work.  Mission  con- 
gregations, like  young  people,  often  misinterpret 
and  misunderstand  the  actions  of  their  superiors. 
It  takes  wisdom,  patience,  and  determination  on 
the  part  of  the  board  to  take  and  maintain  the 
proper  attitude  towards  a  particular  mission  field. 

One  difficulty  that  has  to  be  contended  with  is 
the  zeal  of  missionary  pastors.  Overzealous  mis- 
sionaries are  apt  to  magnify  the  importance  of 
the  particular  field  in  which  they  labor.  The  mis- 
sionary on  the  field  feels  the  importance  and 
strain  of  the  work  and  he  appeals  to  the  board 
for  many  things,  and  when  they  are  not  forth- 
coming, he  concludes  that  the  board  is  not  taking 
the  proper  interest  in  the  mission.     He  forgets 


156  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

that  all  the  other  missionary  pastors  have  that 
same  idea  and  are  making  the  same  appeals.  The 
missionary  and  the  mission  must  exercise  common 
sense  and  patience  as  well  as  the  board.  When 
all  concerned  do  their  part,  then  the  work  ad- 
vances. 

The  General  Superintendent. 

The  board  must  have  some  person  to  carry  out 
its  plans.  Very  few  boards  are  so  organized  that 
the  members  themselves  can  carry  out  its  designs 
and  plans.  There  must  be  some  one  whose  duty 
it  is  to  see  that  the  work  is  done.  This  man  is 
usually  called  "The  Superintendent  of  Home  Mis- 
sions" or  "The  General  Secretary  of  Home  Mis- 
sions" or  some  other  appropriate  name.  It  is  a 
position  of  great  importance.  Upon  him  more 
than  upon  any  other  individual  depends  the  suc- 
cess or  failure  of  the  Home  Mission  work  of  the 
Church.  His  enthusiasm,  wisdom,  and  discretion 
are  in  evidence  throughout  the  whole  Home  Mis- 
sion field.  Who  is  sufficient  for  such  a  task?  A 
few  characteristics  of  such  a  man  will  not  be  out 
of  place. 

He  must  Have  a  Deep  Love  for  his  Church. 

He  must  be  a  man  with  a  deep  love  for  his 
Church.  Without  this  he  cannot  carry  on  the 
work.  If  he  reasons  that  it  makes  little  difference 
who  gets  our  destitute  brethren  from  Europe  and 
from  the  home  churches,  only  so  some  denomina- 


HOME    MISSION    FORCES  157 

tion  picks  them  up,  the  results  of  his  labors  will 
be  meager.  Loving  his  Church  because  it  teaches 
the  very  truth  of  God  more  plainly  than  any  other, 
and  worships  Him  according  to  Scriptural  meth- 
ods, he  will  toil  with  ease,  because  his  heart  is 
alive  to  the  importance  of  the  cause.  Nothing 
short  of  a  deep  love  for  the  Lutheran  Church  will 
suffice  in  a  general  superintendent.  We  are  not 
pleading  for  a  fanatical  enthusiasm  in  our  super- 
intendent, but  we  do  believe  that  he  should  feel 
that  his  Church  has  a  mission  which  no  other 
Church  can  perform.  He  should  be  convinced 
that  if  his  Church  does  not  do  the  work,  then  it 
will  remain  undone.  That  the  Lutheran  Church 
has  a  large  work  to  do  in  this  country  cannot  be 
denied.  If  this  Church  does  not  do  its  Home 
Mission  work,  then  there  will  be  thousands  of 
souls  lost.  Realizing  this  and  being  moved  with 
a  deep  love  of  the  Church,  our  superintendent 
goes  into  the  work  with  faith  and  courage.  De- 
termined to  win,  by  the  help  of  God  he  will  win. 

He  must  Have  a  Broad  Vision. 

The  man  directing  the  Home  Mission  work  of 
the  Church  must  be  a  man  with  a  broad  vision. 
No  shortsighted  partisan  can  properly  direct  this 
work.  He  must  be  able  to  stand  on  the  mountain 
top  and  view  the  whole  land  and  see  it  in  relation 
to  the  Home  Mission  work.  The  needs  of  the  city, 
the  needs  of  the  country,  the  needs  of  the  mining 
districts,  and  the  needs  of  the  frontier  must  be 


158  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

given  the  consideration  due  them.  He  must  be 
able  to  see  the  strategic  points.  Our  population 
is  forever  shifting.  The  village  of  to-day  is  the 
city  of  to-morrow.  The  superintendent  must  be 
able  to  see  the  strategic  points  and  direct  the 
Church's  efforts  to  them  before  it  is  too  late. 

One  weakness  of  our  Lutheran  Home  Mission 
work  has  been  that  we  have  not  taken  possession 
of  the  strategic  places  in  time.  A  universally  sad 
wail  all  over  the  West  is  that  our  Church  has  come 
twenty  years  too  late.  This  has  been  due  to  the 
fact  that  our  leaders  did  not  realize  the  importance 
of  strategic  points  until  other  denominations  had 
occupied  the  field.  A  superintendent  worthy  of 
the  name  must  view  the  whole  field.  He  must 
know  the  strategic  points  and  he  must  plant  the 
Church  there  before  the  opportunity  is  passed. 

While  our  superintendent  must  have  vision,  his 
vision  must  not  be  contorted.  He  must  not  lose 
the  true  perspective.  He  must  be  able  to  see  the 
city  in  relation  to  the  surrounding  country  and 
the  village  in  relation  to  the  community.  The 
mining  or  lactory  district  must  not  be  viewed 
simply  as  a  mining  or  factory  district,  but  in 
relation  to  the  influence  it  will  exert  and  the  im- 
portance it  will  attain.  The  country  district  must 
not  be  seen  simply  in  its  local  coloring,  but  in  its 
relation  to  the  surrounding  villages  and  adjacent 
cities.  A  general  superintendent  needs  prophetic 
sight  to  enable  him  to  properly  plan  and  develop 
the  work. 


HOME   MISSION  FORCES  159 

He  must  he  Capable  of  Inspiring  Enthusiasm. 

No  one  but  an  enthusiast  can  direct  Home  Mis- 
sion work.  There  is  an  inspiration  in  beginning 
missions,  but  that  inspiration  soon  vanishes.  Fu- 
ture plans  are  always  inspiring,  but  plans  not 
fulfilled  and  expectations  not  realized  are  not  in- 
spiring. Very  few  mission  congregations  develop 
as  was  expectea. 

With  the  passing  of  the  enthusiasm  of  the  first 
beginnings  comes  a  discouragement  which  clouds 
alike  the  mission  and  the  missionary.  When  this 
crisis  is  reached  the  superintendent  must  come 
to  the  rescue.  He  must  have  the  ability  to  inspire 
enthusiasm  in  the  discouraged  missionary  and  the 
dwindling  mission.  If  he  fails  at  this  point  he 
fails  as  a  mission  superintendent.  This  ability 
to  inspire  enthusiasm  and  to  awaken  confidence 
is  a  rare  gift,  and  that  Church  which  has  a  super- 
intendent capable  of  doing  this  has  a  valuable 
man.  Many  a  mission  congregation  is  flourishing 
to-day  because  the  superintendent  inspired  it  with 
confidence  in  a  critical  moment  of  its  existence. 

He  must  be  Conversant  with  the  Needs  of 

the  WorK. 
In  Home  Mission  work,  as  in  business,  the  man 
who  has  worked  his  way  from  the  bottom  up  is 
the  man  who  makes  the  best  director.  Such  a 
man  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  details  of 
the  work  and  understands  the  needs.  We  believe 
that  one  of  the  weaknesses  of  our  Home  Mission 


160  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

work  has  been  that  our  superintendents  have  been 
chosen  not  from  those  who  have  li^bored  on  the 
field  as  missionary  pastors,  but  from  among  those 
who  have  labored  in  established  congregations.  An 
actual  knowledge  of  the  needs  of  the  field  can  only 
come  from  living  contact  with  the  field  such  as 
the  missionary  gets.  There  is  no  knowledge  like 
that  gained  first  hand,  and  the  superintendent 
of  Home  Missions  needs  a  double  portion  of  this 
kind  of  knowledge. 

To  be  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  needs  of 
the  field  the  superintendent  must  travel  much.  He 
should  visit  the  whole  field,  not  once,  but  frequent- 
ly. He  should  know  every  individual  point  thor- 
oughly, and  that  knowledge  should  have  been 
gained  by  a  visit  to  the  field. 

The  superintendent  must  be  familiar  with  the 
immigration  problem  and  with  the  emigration  of 
the  people  at  home.  The  opening  of  new  territory 
and  the  establishing  of  new  enterprises  in  a  very 
short  time  cause  changes  of  population  which  are 
significant  from  the  Home  Mission  standpoint.  A 
superintendent  worthy  of  the  office  must  keep 
abreast  of  these  constant  changes  and  must  be 
ready  to  plant  the  Church  in  such  localities. 

He  must  he  Capable  of  Directing  the  Missionaries. 

A  superintendent  must  have  executive  ability. 
The  missionary  pastors  look  to  him  for  advice 
and  direction.  When  they  appeal  to  him  they  do 
not  want  "sibylline  oracles",  but  practical  advice. 


HOME  MISSION   FORCES  161 

Many  an  otherwise  efficient  superintendent 
wrecks  his  career  of  usefulness  on  this  rock.  He 
is  not  capable  of  directing  the  missionary  pastors. 
It  often  happens  that  instead  of  having  their 
respect  and  confidence  he  has  gained  their  ill-will. 
Such  a  condition  is  deplorable  in  the  extreme. 
There  is  too  much  at  stake  to  permit  the  work  to 
be  retarded  on  this  account.  The  ability  to  direct 
men  is  a  rare  one.  This  is  particularly  true  in 
the  Lutheran  Church.  It  seems  that  individualism 
has  run  riot  with  us.  We  have  no  one  in  our 
church  organization  with  more  than  advisory 
authority,  and  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  super- 
vise the  missionary  pastors  so  that  they  will  not 
take  offense  and  rebel  at  the  idea  of  interference. 
If  there  is  any  place  in  the  Church  where  there 
ought  to  be  authority  it  is  in  the  Home  Mission 
work,  but  here  the  authority  is  not  much  more 
than  advisory.  To  direct  the  missionary  pastors 
with  no  more  authority  is  a  task  from  which 
many  would  shrink,  but  this  is  the  duty  of  the 
superintendent. 

He  must  Not  be  Easily  Discouraged. 
A  man  who  is  inclined  to  look  on  the  dark 
side  of  things  will  make  a  failure  as  a  missionary 
superintendent.  There  is  no  place  in  the  Church 
where  more  obstacles  are  met.  The  contingencies 
are  so  great  that  it  takes  a  man  with  wonderful 
faith  and  courage  to  carry  on  the  work  without 
becoming  discouraged.     But  the  superintendent 


162  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

dare  not  become  discouraged,  for  if  he  does  it 
paralyzes  the  whole  mission  work.  Nothing  is 
so  contagious  as  discouragemer  t.  It  is  bad  enough 
when  the  missionary  pastor  becomes  discouraged, 
but  it  is  unpardonable  in  the  directing  head  of  the 
whole  mission  force. 


V* 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Home  Mission  Forces,  Continued. 

The  Missionary  Pastor  and  the  Church  Ex- 
tension Society. 

The  Missionary  Pastor. 

After  all,  the  success  or  failure  of  the  Home 
Mission  work  lies  with  the  missionary  pastor. 
The  board  and  the  superintendent  cannot  make  a 
success  out  of  a  mission  congregation  unless  that 
mission  has  a  good  pastor.  In  the  last  analysis 
the  burden  rests  upon  him.  The  board  may  aid 
and  the  superintendent  may  advise,  but  he  must 
carry  the  work  to  a  successful  finish.  A  good 
missionary  pastor  will  lead  a  mission  congrega- 
tion to  success  with  little  aid  from  a  board  and 
little  supervision  from  the  superintendent,  while 
a  poor  missionary  pastor  will  make  a  failure  with 
liberal  aid  from  the  board  and  much  advice  from 
the  superintendent.  The  hinge  upon  which  the 
mission  congregation  turns  is  the  missionary  pas- 
tor. 

One  weakness  in  our  mission  work  has  been 


164  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

this,  that  the  Church  has  neglected  to  train  mis- 
sionary pastors  and  consequently  has  sent  into 
the  field  only  those  who  could  not  secure  places 
elsewhere.  Some  one  has  said:  'The  one  great 
weakness  in  the  Church's  mission  work  has  been 
to  send  into  the  most  important  mission  fields 
often  men  least  fitted  for  the  work.  Hardly  any 
other  course  was  left  open.  The  prosperous,  well- 
established  congregations  had  the  first  choice. 
They  took  the  ripest  and  best  men.  What  was 
left  went  to  the  missions.  Fields  that  required 
most  skill  and  best  leadership  were  left  to  students 
fresh  from  the  seminary,  and  often  students  who 
could  find  no  opening  elsewhere.  To  take  hold  of 
a  mission  was  considered  a  confession  of  incom- 
petency to  take  hold  of  something  better.  But 
times  are  changing.  The  hero  is  now  coming  to 
be  the  man  who  has  the  courage  to  say  nay  to 
the  big  congregation  and  who  measures  his  duty 
by  the  importance  of  the  work  to  be  done — not 
by  the  ease  and  comfort  he  may  extract  from  it. 
It  so  happens  that  the  man  who  builds  up  a  church 
from  the  beginning  is  the  man  who  is  most  in  de- 
mand. And  yet  he  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Church 
has  thus  far  shown  little  gratitude.  Starvation 
salaries  have  been  doled  out  to  him,  and  his  work 
has  thus  been  cheapened  and  degraded  in  the  sight 
of  men.  But  so  essential  to  the  growth  of  the 
Church  has  his  work  become  that  the  importance 
of  it  is  being  felt  as  never  before.  Not  cheap 
men,  but  expensive  men — men  of  gifts  and  ex- 


HOME   MISSION    FORCES  165 

perience — should  be  placed  into    our    important 
fields." 

The  missionary  pastor  having  such  an  import- 
ant work  to  do,  it  will  be  well  for  us  to  enumerate 
briefly  some  of  the  characteristics  which  go  to 
make  a  successful  Home  Missionary. 

He  must  be  a  Man  of  Earnest  Piety. 

Earnest  piety  should  characterize  every  one 
who  preaches  the  Gospel,  but  especially  the  Home 
Missionary.  He  must  be  a  man  who  himself  is 
led  of  God.  He  must  be  a  man  who  has  bowed 
before  God  and  unreservedly  placed  himself  in 
His  hands  for  whatever  joy,  sorrow,  success  and 
service  He  might  see  fit  to  give.  One  who  has  had 
experience  suggests  that  every  Home  Missionary 
ought  to  make  a  pledge  to  himself  something  like 
this:  "I  give  myself  to  Thee,  O  God,  body,  soul, 
and  spirit,  in  the  dark  or  in  light,  in  life  or  in 
death,  to  be  Thine  only,  wholly,  and  forever. 
Make  the  most  of  me  that  can  be  made  for  Thy 
glory."  Unless  one  has  consecrated  himself  to 
God  he  will  be  poorly  equipped  for  the  trials  of  a 
Home  Missionary.  Nothing  short  of  an  earnest 
piety  will  do  for  the  man  who  is  to  go  forth  and 
gather  up  the  scattered  sheep  of  the  household  of 
faith,  build  them  up  in  the  faith,  organize  them 
into  a  congregation  and  bring  that  congregation 
to  self-sustentation. 


166  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

He  must  have  Practical  Common  Sense. 

There  is  no  place  in  the  Church  where  the  grace 
of  practical  common  sense  is  needed  so  much  as 
on  the  Home  Mission  field.  The  brilliant  young 
man  is  not  always  the  one  who  can  make  a  success 
in  Home  Mission  work.  Says  one  writer:  "Not 
only  should  the  missionary  carefully  study  the 
situation,  his  surroundings,  and  make  himself 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  different  portions  of 
the  Church  represented  on  the  territory,  but  he 
should  know  how  to  act  so  as  not  to  give  offense, 
so  that,  if  he  can  not  have  the  cooperation  of  all, 
he  does  not  incur  their  hostility  and  open  opposi- 
tion. Here,  if  anywhere,  it  is  necessary  to  possess 
the  wisdom  of  the  serpent  and  the  harmlessness  of 
the  dove.  Care  must  be  taken  to  respect  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  Lutheran  congregations  of  the  sev- 
eral nationalities  and  to  avoid  all  looseness  in 
practice  which  would  tend  to  alienate  them  and 
provoke  their  opposition." 

The  Home  Missionary  must  also  show  his  com- 
mon sense  in  dealing  with  the  men  whom  he  gets 
interested  in  the  work.  These  men  will  come  from 
varied  walks  in  life,  and  from  different  church 
training,  and  to  weld  them  together  in  Christian 
fellowship  requires  sanctified  common  sense. 

Preconceived  notions  of  mission  work  and  too 
great  an  admiration  for  self  are  not  compatible 
with  practical  sense  in  the  Home  Missionary. 
Every  mission  is  like  a  child,  it  has  an  individu- 


HOME   MISSION   FORCES  167 

ality  all  its  own,  and  that  individuality  cannot  be 
destroyed  without  harming  the  mission.  The  mis- 
sionary must  know  this  individuality  and  he  must 
develop  it  in  the  right  way. 

Too  many  of  our  missionaries  try  to  force  con- 
ditions. It  is  absolutely  impossible  to  change  ex- 
isting conditions  in  a  hurry.  He  must  take  con- 
ditions as  they  are  and  work  along  lines  of  least 
resistance  instead  of  along  the  lines  of  most  re- 
sistance, as  too  many  enthusiastic  missionary  pas- 
tors are  wont  to  do.  Many  a  promising  mission 
has  been  crippled  by  an  overzealous  missionary 
trying  to  force  conditions  and  thus  bringing  about 
rebellion  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  the  flock. 
To  antagonize  existing  institutions  and  to  ridicule 
individuals  or  customs  is  the  sheerest  folly.  It 
takes  a  large  share  of  common  sense  to  be  a  suc- 
cessful Home  Missionary. 

He  must  have  Zeal  for-  the  Work. 

No  one  who  has  chosen  the  ministry  for  a  living, 
or  who  looks  upon  it  only  as  an  honorable  profes- 
sion which  gives  position  in  society,  can  be  a  suc- 
cessful Home  Missionary.  Whatever  other  quali- 
fications he  may  have,  if  he  is  not  possessed  with 
a  burning  zeal  for  the  work  he  will  be  a  failure. 
It  is  not  brilliant  oratory,  nor  the  ability  to  shine 
before  the  people,  that  gives  success  on  the  mis- 
sion field.  Love  for  Christ  and  a  passion  for  souls 
must  be  the  prime  motive  in  the  heart  of  the  mis- 
sionary.   A  burning  zeal  to  advance  the  kingdom 


168  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

of  God  must  move  the  missionary  if  he  is  to  be 
used  of  God.  He  who  goes  into  the  work  because 
of  the  novelty  of  laboring  in  a  new  field  and  the 
poetry  of  mission  work  will  soon  find  the  novelty 
worn  away  and  that  there  is  more  stern  prose 
than  was  imagined.  But  when  love  for  souls  and 
the  earnest  desire  to  aid  in  the  upbuilding  of 
Christ's  Church  is  the  incentive,  then  the  work 
will  be  delightful.  Then  will  he  be  working  for 
the  Master,  and  he  will  not  be  easily  discouraged, 
for  he  works  not  for  self,  but  for  God. 

He  must  Possess  the  Spirit  of  Self-denial. 

The  spirit  of  self-denial  is  very  necessary  to 
the  Home  Missionary.  There  may  be  considerable 
honor  and  respect  shown  to  the  pastor  of  a  large 
established  congregation  on  account  of  his  office, 
but  this  will  not  be  shown  to  the.  missionary  on 
the  field.  He  must  be  a  man  among  men,  often 
working  under  the  most  discouraging  circum- 
stances. The  man  who  is  unwilling  to  endure 
hardships,  privations,  and  disappointments  will 
be  a  failure  as  a  Home  Missionary.  Dr.  G.  H. 
Trabert  aptly  says:  "The  spirit  of  self-denial  is 
another  qualification  necessary  for  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary. Whilst  Christ  demands  of  every  Chris- 
tian to  deny  himself  and  take  up  his  cross,  in 
no  department  of  church  work  is  self-denial  more 
demanded  than  on  the  mission  field.  There  is 
often  no  church  in  which  to  hold  services  and  no 
congregation,    besides    the    missionary    may    be 


HOME   MISSION   FORCES  169 

looked  upon  with  suspicion  by  those  of  another 
synod,  since  he  comes  a  stranger  among  strangers. 
He  perhaps  begins  services  in  a  poorly  located 
hall,  for  which  an  exorbitant  rent  is  demanded; 
or  if  the  use  of  a  church  building  can  be  had  it 
is  at  an  unseasonable  hour,  and  instead  of  an 
audience  of  a  hundred  or  more,  there  may  be  half 
a  dozen  to  begin  with.  This  is  not  very  encour- 
aging to  one  who  has  an  exalted  opinion  of  himself 
and  his  drawing  qualities,  but  it  must  be  borne 
in  mind  that  it  is  missionary  work,  and  to  gather 
a  congregation  in  a  new  field  is  not  the  work 
of  a  day  or  even  a  year ....  The  work  can  only 
be  established  by  means  of  persistent,  self-denying 
effort."  The  smallness  of  the  beginnings,  the 
many  discouragements  and  disappointments,  the 
lack  of  personal  associates,  the  loss  of  opportuni- 
ties for  personal  improvement,  and  the  lack  of 
appreciation  on  the  part  of  the  people  in  the  mis- 
sion and  of  the  Church  at  large  are  all  things 
which  demand  the  highest  spirit  of  self-denial  on 
the  part  of  the  missionary.  The  man  who  cannot 
endure  the  severest  self-denial  is  not  the  man  to 
engage  in  Home  Mission  work. 

He  must  he  Uncompromising  in  the  Faith. 

It  takes  a  man  with  a  firm  conviction  to  be  a 
Home  Missionary.  A  doubter,  or  a  sceptic,  has  no 
business  on  the  mission  field.  The  strongest  faith 
will  be  tested  to  the  uttermost.  We  quote  Dr. 
Trabert:  "The  Home  Missionary  must  be  uncom- 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  1"' 


170  HOME    MISSION   FORCES 

promising  in  the  faith.  No  one  who  apologizes 
for  his  being  a  Lutheran,  or  who  is  tainted  with 
so-called  liberalism,  or  who  compromises  his  faith 
by  unionistic  practices  which  seem  to  nullify  the 
distinctive  doctrines  of  our  Church,  is  fitted  for 
the  mission  field.  In  the  first  place,  such  a  one 
could  not  command  the  respect  of  the  German  and 
Scandinavian  pastors  and  congregations ;  second- 
ly, he  would  be  faithless  to  his  trust  as  a  Lutheran 
and  appear  to  be  ashamed  of  her  pure  doctrine, 
by  which  he  would  lose  the  respect  of  the  denomi- 
nations who  might  use  him  as  a  tool  to  further 
their  own  ends ;  and  in  the  third  place,  no  Church 
will  succeed  that  is  not  aggressive  and  does  not 
firmly  hold  to  its  distinctive  principles  without 
compromise,  whatever  others  may  say.  The  most 
uncompromising  Lutheran,  if  he  is  a  sincere  and 
honorable  Christian,  will  be  far  more  respected 
by  truly  honest  Christians  of  other  denominations 
around  us  than  one  who  is  indifferent  to  the  dis- 
tinctive doctrines  he  professes  to  believe,  and  does 
that  in  practice  by  which  they  are  apparently 
ignored." 

The  compromising  missionary  pastor  has  no 
mission.  If  he  has  nothing  definite  to  preach  and 
teach,  then  he  has  no  work  to  do.  The  very  fact 
that  our  Church  has  a  doctrine  and  practice  dis- 
tinct from  that  of  the  other  Protestant  Churches 
gives  it  its  Home  Mission  call  in  this  land.  If  the 
missionary  pastor  is  not  convinced  that  he  has 
something  to  offer  to  those  who  are  not  in  connec- 


HOME   MISSION    FORCES  171 

tion  with  any  Church,  then  the  thing  for  him  to 
do  is  to  join  in  with  whatever  Church  may  be  on 
the  field  and  help  it  in  its  endeavors.  A  staunch 
Lutheran  faith  and  consciousness  is  a  necessary 
requisite  to  the  missionary  pastor. 

He  must  Possess  the  Grace  of  Patience. 

There  are  so  many  things  to  try  the  patience 
of  the  missionary  pastor.  The  work  does  not 
progress  as  rapidly  as  was  anticipated.  Some  of 
the  members  of  the  mission  are  not  as  faithful 
and  earnest  as  would  be  desired,  and  do  not  take 
hold  of  the  work  as  they  should.  Again,  it  will 
devolve  upon  the  missionary  to  be  everything, 
even  being  obliged  to  do  the  work  of  a  janitor. 
He  will  have  to  gather  the  children  for  the  Sun- 
day-school and  then  secure  teachers  for  them.  He 
will  have  to  hunt  the  people  who  are  to  become 
members  of  his  future  church  and  train  and  de- 
velop them.  It  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  find  those 
upon  whom  he  can  place  responsibility.  Again 
and  again  he  will  be  disappointed.  These  and 
many  other  things  will  make  the  work  irksome 
and  try  his  patience.  But  the  earnest,  sincere 
missionary  will  not  be  discouraged.  He  looks 
ahead.  He  has  faith.  He  patiently  endures  the 
many  trials  incident  to  his  work.  He  has  God's 
assurance  that  success  will  come.  He  labors  on, 
knowing  that  in  His  own  good  time  God  will  bless 
the  work.  His  trust  is  in  God  and  he  waits  in 
patience. 


172  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

He  must  he  Adapted  to  the  Work  and  the  Field. 

From  what  has  already  been  said  it  can  be  seen 
that  the  Home  Missionary  must  be  a  specially 
endowed  man.  Not  every  one  is  adapted  for  work 
on  the  home  field.  The  Church  has  been  too  slow 
in  learning  this  truth.  Instead  of  placing  the 
strongest  men  on  the  home  mission  fields,  too 
often  the  weakest  men  have  been  placed  there. 
The  day  of  specialists  has  come,  and  the  Church 
must  learn  to  take  men  specially  adapted  and  train 
them  for  the  Home  Mission  work.  Experience 
has  taught  us  that  not  every  good  pastor  will  make 
a  good  Home  Missionary.  Well  does  The  Home 
Missionai'y  say:  "The  time  will  soon  come  when 
in  mission  work  as  in  all  our  professions  and  oc- 
cupations we  will  be  compelled  to  have  specialists. 
Not  only  specialists  as  Home  Missionary  Super- 
intendents and  Church  Extension  agents,  but 
specialists  who  know  how  to  gather  people  and 
organize  them  into  churches ;  specialists  who  know 
how  to  gather  funds,  specialists  who  know  how 
to  spend  them  in  the  erection  of  mission  churches, 
and  these  can  be  followed  by  the  men  who  are  to 
be  the  permanent  pastors." 

Experience  shows  that  some  men  will  make 
brilliant  success  in  certain  fields  and  utterly  fail 
in  others.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  a  man  being 
adapted  to  a  certain  field  or  certain  kind  of  Home 
Mission  work.  The  proper  man  and  the  proper 
field  must  be  brought  together.     In  the  past  too 


HOME  MISSION  FORCES  173 

much  money  and  time  have  been  wasted  simply 
because  no  attention  was  paid  to  this  fact.  When 
the  missionary  pastor  is  adapted  to  the  field,  and 
the  people  rally  to  his  support,  the  success  will 
follow.  Adaptability  is  a  necessary  characteristic 
of  the  successful  Home  Missionary. 

The  Church  Extension  Society. 
When  a  mission  is  just  started,  its  most  urgent 
need  is  a  place  of  worship  of  its  own.  Every  one 
knows  what  a  drawback  to  the  success  of  such  a 
movement  it  is  to  be  compelled  to  worship  in  a 
rented  hall  for  any  length  of  time.  In  the  early 
days  it  was  not  so  very  difficult  for  a  mission 
congregation  to  secure  a  church  building.  Usually 
one  man  would  donate  a  piece  of  ground,  others 
would  donate  trees,  and  they  would  all  join  to- 
gether, take  the  logs  to  the  sawmill  and  have 
them  cut  into  lumber,  and  with  their  own  hands 
they  would  erect  a  church  building.  That  was  an 
easy  way  of  getting  a  church,  but  those  days  have 
passed.  It  is  now  absolutely  impossible  for  the 
members  of  the  average  mission  congregation  to 
donate  material  and  labor  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  building.  Nor  is  it  possible  for  them  to 
give  enough  money  to  build  a  church.  This  being 
the  case,  the  Church  has  to  provide  other  ways  by 
which  mission  congregations  may  be  helped  to 
acquire  a  church  home  for  themselves.  This  has 
been  done  by  organizing  Church  Extension  So- 
cieties.    Such  societies  endeavor  to  aid  mission 


174  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

churches  in  their  effort  to  build  for  themselves 
places  of  worship.  These  societies  have  been  very 
successful  and  are  important  forces  in  our  Home 
Mission  work. 

Its  Object. 

The  object  and  aim  of  a  church  extension  so- 
ciety is  to  aid  mission  congregations  in  securing 
church  homes  for  themselves.  We  quote  from  the 
constitution  of  one  such  society.  The  object  of 
this  society  shall  be  "to  secure  and  safely  manage 
a  permanent  church  extension  fund,  and  hold  same 
in  trust,  to  assist  missions  and  other  needy  church- 
es in  the  securement  of  grounds  for  the  building 
of  church  edifices  and  the  erection  thereon  of 
churches  or  chapels  for  the  use  of  congregations 
in  the  public  worship  of  Almighty  God,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  faith  and  usages  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  and  for  the  securement 
of  grounds  for  the  building  of  institutions  of 
learning,  charity,  or  benovelence."  Speaking  of 
the  object  of  the  Church  Extension  Society,  Mr. 
E.  Aug.  Miller  says :  "The  purpose  of  the  Church 
Extension  Society  is  to  give  aid  to  newly  estab- 
lished congregations  who  are  not  able  to  buy  a 
lot  and  build  a  church  at  once.  It  does  away,  to 
a  great  extent,  with  the  necessity  of  a  newly 
established  congregation  worshiping  in  a  hall  or 
over  a  stable,  or  in  dancing  halls .  .  .  The  Church 
Extension  Society  loans  a  sufficient  amount  of 
money  without  interest  for  a  period  of  years,  and 


HOME   MISSION   FORCES  175 

says,  'Go  ahead,  and  build  a  church  which  will  be  a 
credit  to  the  neighborhood.'  "  Dr.  Samuel  Laird, 
for  many  years  president  of  a  Church  Extension 
Society,  writes  in  The  Lutheran:  "Among  the 
various  agencies  employed  in  our  Church  for  the 
advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ  none  is  more 
valuable  than  the  Lutheran  Mission  and  Church 
Extension  Society.  It  occupies  a  preeminent  posi- 
tion among  all  our  church  works.  It  has  not  yet 
commanded  that  consideration  which  its  merits 
deserve.  . .  .  The  object  of  this  Society  is  to  aid 
in  the  establishment  of  English  Lutheran  church- 
es. It  would  not  be  possible  to  do  a  more  blessed 
work  in  the  world  than  to  establish  a  Christian 
church.  All  the  purposes  our  Lord  had  in  view 
in  founding  His  Church  on  earth  are  accomplished 
by  it.  The  Word  of  God  is  there  preached  and 
the  Sacraments  are  administered  in  accordance 
with  that  Word,  and  these  are  the  divinely  ap- 
pointed means  of  grace  for  the  salvation  of  men. 
What  can  any  one  do  that  is  of  greater  advantage 
to  the  human  race,  or  more  in  accordance  with 
the  mind  of  Christ,  than  to  aid  in  the  upbuilding 
of  such  an  organization  as  this. 

"Moreover,  it  is  the  Christian  Church  that  or- 
iginates and  carries  on  all  charitable,  merciful  and 
true  educational  movements.  If  we  have  churches 
we  will  as  a  natural  consequence  have  missions 
at  home  and  abroad,  hospitals  for  the  sick,  asylums 
for  the  aged,  homes  for  the  orphans,  and  constant 
efforts  are  made  for  the  uplifting  of  the  fallen, 


176  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

the  unfortunate  and  depraved  through  ministra- 
tions to  the  body  as  well  as  to  the  soul.  Where 
the  Christian  Church  is  found  all  of  these  inter- 
ests will  be  promoted,  but  take  away  the  Church, 
and  into  what  state  will  society  revert?. . .  Is  it 
not  true,  therefore,  that  the  Lutheran  Mission 
and  Church  Extension  Society,  inasmuch  as  its 
purpose  is  to  establish  churches,  becomes  one  of 
the  most  valuable  organizations  among  us  for  the 
advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ?" 

In  fact  our  whole  Home  Mission  propaganda 
is  dependent  for  its  success  upon  the  Church  Ex- 
tension Society.  The  Home  Mission  board  may 
organize  mission  congregations,  but  unless  they 
soon  have  church  buildings  of  their  own  they 
amount  to  but  little.  The  problem  with  most  mis- 
sion congregations  is  the  problem  of  a  church 
building,  and  this  problem  the  Church  Extension 
Society  must  help  solve.  It  is  now  perfectly  un- 
derstood that  no  mission  is  safely  planted  until  it 
has  a  church  building  of  its  own.  When  our 
Church  Extension  societies  have  more  funds,  then 
our  Home  Mission  work  will  move  forward  more 
rapidly. 

Its  Method  of  Operation. 

Up  to  the  present  time  no  Lutheran  Church 
Extension  Society  that  we  know  of  has  a  regular 
income.  They  are  all  entirely  dependent  upon  the 
gifts  and  free-will  offerings  of  the  people.  In 
this  respect  our  Extension  Societies  are  behind 


HOME  MISSION   FORCES  177 

the  times.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important 
forces  in  our  Home  Mission  work  and  should  have 
a  regular  income.  It  is  just  as  important  to  build 
churches  for  new  missions  as  it  is  to  start  the 
mission  itself.  We  hope  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  the  Church  will  make  arrangements  so  this 
branch  of  the  Home  Mission  work  will  have  the 
financial  support  that  it  deserves. 

When  a  Church  Extension  Society  accumulates 
a  fund  it  does  not  give  its  money  away,  but  loans 
it  to  feeble  congregations  just  starting  into  life, 
to  enable  them  to  secure  a  house  of  worship  where 
they  may  meet  for  service.  The  advantage  to 
these  congregations  is  that  they  have  a  loan  for 
a  term  of  years  without  interest.  In  the  course 
of  time  the  loan  is  paid  back  and  is  sent  out  in 
some  other  direction  on  its  mission  of  love.  In 
this  way  church  after  church  is  helped  with  the 
same  funds.  There  is  no  part  of  our  church  work 
that  is  more  important  and  more  businesslike. 
Dr.  J.  M.  Francis  says :  "It  may  not  be  too  much 
to  say  that  no  work  for  Lutheranism  appeals  more 
to  the  business  man  and  has  been  more  popular 
than  that  of  Church  Extension.  It  has  been  a 
large  factor  in  making  our  work  in  this  country 
permanent." 

What  some  of  the  other  Protestant  denomina- 
tions have  been  doing  along  this  lines  of  Church 
Extension  will  be  of  interest.  In  The  Lutheran 
of  1909  we  find  the  following  interesting  figures : 

"To  show  that  we  are  just  approaching  the 


178  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

dawn  of  this  new  and  greater  day  in  mission  ac- 
tivity, we  have,  through  the  courtesy  of  represen- 
tatives, secured  figures  from  societies  in  the  Pres- 
byterian, the  Congregational,  and  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Churches.  In  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
church  extension  dates  back  to  1844.  During 
these  years  help  has  been  extended  (in  the  form 
of  gifts,  loans  without  interest,  and  loans  with 
interest)  to  8,106  churches  with  a  total  outlay  of 
$5,221,172.  Last  year  261  churches  were  aided 
and  the  handsome  sum  of  $233,613  placed  at  their 
disposal.  As  nearly  $2,000,000  has  been  in  the 
form  of  gifts,  there  is  left  in  invested  funds  and 
in  church  properties,  $3,396,000  of  the  $5,221,172 
raised  during  these  years.  To  show  what  this 
huge  fund  has  accomplished  in  every  section  of 
the  country,  only  a  few  States  need  be  selected. 
In  Wisconsin,  256  churches  have  been  aided  in 
gifts  and  loans  amounting  to  $165,000  (the  pres- 
ent size  of  our  Church  Extension  Society's  fund)  ; 
in  Minnesota,  439  churches  with  $297,227  aid ;  in 
the  Dakotas,  402  churches  with  $233,725  aid;  in 
Washington  and  Oregon,  375  churches  with  $233,- 
536  aid. 

The  history  of  the  Congregational  Society  is 
still  more  remarkable.  It  dates  back  to  1853 
and  has  raised  $5,943,463  and  extended  aid  to 
erect  3,988  churches  and  1,054  parsonages.  Last 
year  its  income  was  $248,152,  and  it  helped  to 
erect  101  churches  and  26  parsonages.  The  growth 
of  its  fund  has  been  remarkable  within  the  last 


HOME  MISSION  FORCES  179 

decade,  and  after  deducting  the  gifts,  it  has  assets 
left  to  the  amount  of  $3,418,693. 

The  Episcopal  Church  started  much  later — in 
1880— but  its  fund  is  already  $458,065.38.  In 
1907,  it  granted  $27,660  in  loans  to  ten  churches 
and  $10,250  in  gifts  to  thirty-five  churches.  Its 
society  is  not  as  old  as  ours  of  the  General  Council, 
but  it  has  the  advantage  of  a  larger  and  richer 
English  constituency. 

These  figures  tell  their  own  story.  They  point 
the  finger  at  us  and  command  us  to  awake  out  of 
sleep  and  be  up  and  doing.  There  is  not  a  field 
in  either  of  the  three  named  churches  as  rich  and 
hopeful  as  ours;  but  it  goes  without  saying  that 
unless  we  become  far  more  rich  in  good  works 
than  we  have  been,  they  will  continue  to  cultivate 
much  of  the  field  which  our  inactivity  has  allowed 
to  become  overgrown  with  weeds." 


^^ 


CHAPTER  X. 

Methods  of  Carrying  on  Home  Mission 
Work. 

From  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century 
there  were  Lutherans  scattered  from  Maine  to 
Georgia.  A  few  had  brought  with  them  their 
own  pastors  and  soon  organized  congregations, 
but  the  great  majority  were  without  spiritual 
guides.  From  this  time  down  to  the  closing  of 
the  nineteenth  century  our  Church  has  many 
neglected  children  to  mourn  over.  So  many  had 
come  across  the  sea  without  religious  teachers, 
and  there  were  no  mission  boards  to  help  them. 
No  charitable  institutions  in  the  Fatherland  were 
interested  in  their  welfare.  But  on  they  came 
and  that  at  a  time  when  Germany  was  in  one  of 
the  gloomiest  periods  of  its  history.  Thus  our 
people  came  to  America  when  we  were  least  able 
to  take  care  of  them.  However,  the  Church  soon 
began  to  grapple  with  the  problem  and  heroic 
efforts  were  put  forth  to  bring  these  destitute 
ones  the  Gospel  message. 


METHODS  OF  CARRYING  ON  HOME  MISSION  WORK  181 

The  Itiner^ate  System. 

The  earliest  form  of  Lutheran  Home  Missions 
in  this  country  was  the  itinerate  system.  Lu- 
theran pastors  were  sent  over  here  from  Ger- 
many and  Scandinavia  commissioned  by  some 
part  of  the  Church  at  home  and  authorized  to 
missionate  among  the  incoming  immigrants  for 
the  express  purpose  of  establishing  a  German  or 
Scandinavian  Church.  This  would  not  have  been 
a  bad  system  had  it  not  been  used  by  unscrupulous 
venturers  from  the  old  country.  When  some  man 
in  the  old  country  came  under  the  eye  of  the  law 
it  was  nothing  uncommon  for  him  to  get  a  sud- 
den impulse  to  missionate  in  America.  The  pages 
of  our  early  history  are  full  of  sad  depredations 
committed  by  such  men  in  the  name  of  Home  Mis- 
sions. Some  of  the  greatest  difficulties  Muhlen- 
berg had  to  contend  with  when  he  arrived,  was 
to  deal  with  this  class  of  pastors.  But  this  class 
was  in  the  minority,  or  the  Church  never  would 
have  been  established. 

There  were  good  and  honest  men  who  took  up 
the  work  of  Lutheran  Home  Missions  and  carried 
it  forward.  This  itinerate  system  prevailed  in 
the  East  and  South  as  late  as  1860,  and  in  the 
West  to  a  still  later  period. 

In  the  South  we  find  the  Henkels  going  out  on 
this  kind  of  work  and  coming  as  far  as  Indiana 
and  Illinois.  Speaking  of  the  work  of  Rev.  Paul 
Henkel,  Rev.  M.  L.  Wagner  says:  "No  more  ac- 


182  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

live,  indefatigable  and  self-denying  missionary 
than  Paul  Henkel  ever  labored  in  this  country . .  . 
Without  any  authorization  from  Mission  Boards, 
or  assurance  of  support  save  the  Master's  com- 
mand, 'Go  preach  the  Gospel',  and  the  promise, 
'Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway',  he  vv^ent  forth  in 
obedience  to  that  command  and  in  firm  reliance 
upon  that  promise,  and  entered  upon  his  labors 
unmoved  and  undismayed  by  the  darkest  pros- 
pects. Tennessee,  Virginia,  North  and  South 
Carolina,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Ohio,  and  West  Vir- 
ginia were  the  fields  of  his  operations.  In  some 
of  these  tours  he  was  accompanied  by  his  noble 
and  heroic  wife,  who  was  animated  by  a  like 
missionary  spirit.  In  a  two-wheeled  wagon  they 
traveled.  Their  journeys  were  not  without  dan- 
gers. In  peril  of  waters,  crossing  swollen  streams, 
in  perils  of  land,  often  compelled  to  spend  the 
night  in  the  forests  abounding  with  panther,  bear, 
and  wolves,  they  passed  their  time  that  the  Gospel 
might  be  preached  unto  the  destitute.  ...  In  his 
journey ings  he  often  came  upon  gatherings  of 
people  such  as  'log-rollings',  'home-  or  barn-rais- 
ings', 'corn-huskings'  and  the  like.  On  such  oc- 
casions he  would  announce  his  office  and  offer  to 
preach.  The  offer  as  a  rule  was  gladly  accepted. 
The  people  would  seat  themselves  upon  logs, 
stumps,  or  on  the  ground,  while  a  stump  or  'log- 
cut'  set  on  end  served  as  a  pulpit.  Under  these 
conditions  and  in  these  improvised  sanctuaries 
he  would  deliver  his  sermon  in  the  language  pre- 


JIETIIODS  OF  CARRYING  ON  HOME  MISSION  WOKK  183 

ferred,  German  or  English,  or  possibly  a  sermon 
in  each.  If  time  permitted  he  would  tarry  a  few 
days,  visit  from  house  to  house,  baptize  the  chil- 
dren, and  comfort  the  sick  and  sorrowing.  His 
kindly  acts  and  genuine  Christian  sympathy  won 
the  hearts  of  all,  and  the  partings  were  often  amid 
sobs  and  tears.  Thus  the  settlements  were  visited 
and  the  desolate  made  to  rejoice  in  the  treasuries 
of  grace." 

It  is  well  known  that  Father  Heyer  in  his 
earlier  life  served  as  a  Home  Missionary  in  Wes- 
tern Pennsylvania,  and  in  later  years  pushed  as 
far  west  as  Minnesota.  Father  Heyer  has  left  us 
some  descriptions  of  his  travels  as  an  itinerate 
missionary.  Here  is  one  of  his  experiences  in 
the  early  days:  "One  day  I  had  to  ride  thirty 
miles  before  I  came  to  a  house.  This  was  on  a 
new  road  then  recently  laid  out  by  the  State,  and 
only  lately  opened  in  Chesterfield  county.  In  the 
evening  I  reached  a  hut,  built  of  round  logs,  where 
three  bachelor  brothers  had  put  up  their  home 
removed  from  the  world.  But  it  soon  appeared 
that  singing  and  praying  was  not  their  main  oc- 
cupation. Like  Nimrod  they  were  mighty  hunters 
before  the  Lord.  All  travelers  passing  that  way 
had  to  stay  with  these  hunters,  or  spend  the  night 
under  the  open  sky  in  the  pine  forest.  When  I 
arrived  in  the  evening  five  travelers  had  already 
arrived,  eaten  their  supper,  and  left  not  even  a 
piece  of  bread.  At  this  time,  when  I  was  on  my 
first  missionary  journey  in  1817,  there  was  no 


184  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

longer  any  danger  to  fear  from  hostile  Indians 
in  Pennsylvania.  This  I  knew  well.  Still  I  was 
not  quite  comfortable  when  I  altogether  unex- 
pectedly met  a  number  of  these  inhabitants  of  the 
forest  near  the  Allegheny  River.  A  part  of  the 
tribe,  known  as  the  Corn-planters,  had  been  in 
the  neighborhood  for  several  weeks  hunting  and 
fishing." 

We  also  read  of  a  whole  synod  taking  up  this 
itinerate  system,  all  its  pastors  riding  the  circuit 
after  the  fashion  of  the  early  Methodists.  This 
system  with  all  its  faults  bore  much  fruit,  but  it 
was  not  the  final  form  of  Lutheran  Home  Missions 
for  America.  However,  we  must  not  depreciate 
the  labors  of  these  early  men.  They  were  pioneers 
in  Home  Mission  work  and  blazed  the  way  for 
the  Church.  Without  their  labors  the  Church 
could  not  have  been  built  up  in  later  years.  These 
men  sowed  the  seed,  others  reaped  the  harvest. 
Speaking  of  these  early  pioneer  Home  Missio- 
naries in  Pennsylvania,  Rev.  Frank  C.  Oberly 
says:  "Living  in  the  center  of  the  community  to 
whose  congregations  he  was  first  called,  each  pas- 
tor ministered  to  the  needs  of  German  families 
or  smaller  settlements  lying  many  miles  beyond 
the  circumference  of  his  original  parish.  Often 
he  traveled  over  paths  newly  blazed,  fording 
streams  in  the  heat  of  a  sultry  noon,  or  in  the 
biting  cold  of  a  midwinter  morning.  Now  his 
long  journey  led  him  to  a  funeral,  now  to  a 
wedding  or  a  baptism.     Wherever  he  went  he 


METHODS  OF  CARRYING  ON  HOME  MISSION   WOKK  185 

felt  a  call  to  preach  the  Word  of  God,  in  house, 
in  barn,  or  in  groves.  His  visits  and  ministra- 
tions were  most  welcome  to  every  cluster  of  Ger- 
man settlers,  and  he  could  not  retrace  his  steps 
without  a  distinct  promise  to  make  regular  pro- 
vision for  their  spiritual  needs.  Thus  journeying 
forth  from  his  immediate  parish  he  widened  the 
circle    of    his    ministry,    baptizing,    confirming, 

preaching,  and  forming  congregations The 

pioneer  missionary  who  cast  his  lot  with  the  mot- 
ley band  of  immigrants  that  crossed  the  Alle- 
ghanies  to  found  homes  in  the  untenanted  forests 
and  on  the  trackless  prairie,  bore  only  a  very 
general  likeness  to  his  brother  clergyman.  No 
one  was  more  justly  entitled  to  be  called  a  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel  than  he.  But  in  so  many 
respects  was  he  unlike  his  brethren  in  the  older 
Eastern  communities  that  he  formed  a  distinctive 
type  of  clergyman.  His  mental  habits,  the  round 
of  his  daily  experiences,  the  unique  and  varied 
character  of  his  professional  activity,  the  peculiar 
hardships  befalling  him,  his  isolation  and  inde- 
pendence, and  his  original  methods  of  work  com- 
bined to  separate  him  into  a  special  class  of 
preachers  that  has  become  extinct  with  the  pas- 
sing of  the  forest  and  the  rapid  population  of  our 
domain."  Theodore  Roosevelt  says:  "The  whole 
West  owes  an  immense  debt  to  the  hard  working 
frontier  preachers  who  so  gladly  gave  their  lives- 
to  their  labors  and  who  struggled  with  such  fiery 
zeal  for  the  moral  well-being  of  the  communities 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  13 


186  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

to  which  they  penetrated."  Mr.  Ward  Piatt  in 
"The  Frontier"  has  characterized  the  early  Home 
Missionary  in  these  words:  "But  what  of  those 
souls  who  endured  again  and  again  all  the  priva- 
tions of  primitive  travel,  and  over  and  over  again 
compassed  the  same  frontier :  always  homeless,  al- 
ways seeking  those  more  needy  than  themselves ; 
without  adequate  subsistance,  enduring  exposure, 
exertions,  and  discomforts  unknown  to  older  com- 
munities? Going  where  they  were  not  invited, 
often  not  wanted,  they  contended  for  the  privilege 
of  being  benefactors.  One  could  not  hide  from 
them  nor  move  to  a  wilderness  so  remote  that 
the  missionary  did  not,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
appear.  His  was  a  passion  born  of  heaven. . . , 
Wherever  the  early  settlers  went  the  missionary 
followedr  He  was  a  formative  factor.  The  an- 
nals of  these  men  show  what  godless  communities 
they  invaded;  how  people  who  had  once  known 
better  things  had  retrograded;  how  the  Sabbath, 
in  fact  the  entire  decalogue,  was  virtually  abro- 
gated. Yet  patiently,  with  a  persistency  more 
than  human  and  with  a  wisdom  and  power  direct 
from  God,  these  men  radiated  influences  and 
were  the  sources  of  currents  that  shaped  com- 
munities and  built  up  states.  They  could  no  more 
be  resisted  than  the  forces  of  nature.  Nature  is 
an  expression  of  God.  His  faithful  servants  are 
his  organs  of  speech.  Without  the  early  preach- 
ers, frontiers  would  have  lapsed  into  barbarism. 
Their   evolution    into    orderly    towns    and    law- 


METHODS  OF  CARRYING  ON  HOME  MISSION  WORK  187 

abiding  commonwealths,  their  progress  in  intel- 
lectual and  moral  life,  their  stability,  and,  in 
short,  every  element  that  to-day  distinguishes 
them  from  utter  paganism  with  all  its  poverty 
and  hideousness,  is  as  inseparable  from  the 
preacher  as  light  from  the  sun.  Whoever  will 
know  this  may  read  for  himself.  He  will  be  im- 
pressed more  with  the  surprising  history  than  its 
abundant  testimony  concerning  our  debt  to  the 
pioneer  preacher.  He  was  God's  herald  trumpet- 
ing his  proclamation,  and  as  truly  was  his  in- 
strument which  moulded  our  infant  nation." 

The  Parochial  System. 

Another  early  form  of  Lutheran  Home  Mis- 
sions was  the  Parochial  System.  Here  the  initia- 
tive and  authority  was  not  vested  in  the  individual 
man,  but  in  the  congregation.  Congregations  saw 
the  need  of  Home  Mission  work,  and  they  en- 
deavored to  supply  this  need.  This  plan  worked 
well  in  certain  communities,  and  in  the  East  we 
have  grand  fruits  from  this  planting.  It  was  the 
best  that  could  be  developed  under  the  existing 
circumstances,  and  God  blessed  this  method  won- 
derfully. Sometimes  a  number  of  churches  in  a 
town  or  community  banded  together  to  carry  on 
mission  work  in  a  certain  neighborhood.  Usually 
this  kind  of  work  was  successful.  We  give  an 
account  of  such  work  which  speaks  for  itself: 

"What  can  be  done  with  no  extraordinary  effort, 
is  well  illustrated  in  the  missionary  work  at  Roch- 


188  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

ester.  In  the  Church  of  the  Reformation,  a  mis- 
sion fund  was  started  in  the  Sunday-school.  It 
amounted  to  about  $150.  It  was  not  much  to  be- 
gin a  mission  with.  But  it  was  sufficient  to  pur- 
chase the  necessary  outfit  of  Sunday-school  books, 
Helpers,  Lesson  leaves,  etc.,  and  to  furnish  the 
room  that  had  been  rented  for  the  new  enterprise. 

"The  starting  of  this  mission  took  entire  classes 
from  the  Sunday-school  of  the  mother  church, 
together  with  several  of  its  most  capable  teachers. 
When  the  time  came  to  organize,  it  drew  fifty 
members  from  the  parent  congregation,  two  of 
them  being  members  of  the  church  council.  But 
that  church  now  has  its  own  pastor,  over  one 
hundred  communicants,  a  Sunday-school  number- 
ing over  250  children,  and  church  property  worth 
$5,000. 

"Only  a  year  after  the  first,  the  second  mission 
was  projected.  It  now  has  an  enrollment  of  150 
in  the  Sunday-school,  will  organize  with  50  mem- 
bers under  its  own  pastor,  and  is  preparing  to 
build  a  chapel.  This  mission  also  took  a  dozen 
members  from  the  old  church. 

"  'There  is  that  scattereth  and  yet  increaseth.' 
How  is  it  in  this  case?  Well,  there  are  now  in 
attendance  upon  the  three  English  Lutheran  Sun- 
day-schools, 650  scholars,  as  over  against  less 
than  200  in  the  one,  two  years  ago.  At  Easter 
three  classes  were  confirmed,  aggregating  seventy- 
five  persons,  instead  of  one  class  of  possibly 
twenty-five  as  in  former  years.     Where  $1,000 


METHODS  OF  CARRYING  ON  HOME  MISSION  WORK  189 

was  paid  out  two  years  ago  $3,000  is  now  ex- 
pended, besides  about  $2,000  towards  lots  and 
chapels.  By  multiplying  the  working  force  by 
three,  the  resources  have  been  trebled,  and  that 
without  any  undue  pressure  or  worry. 

"According  to  the  pastor's  own  statement,  this 
mission  work  has  had  a  most  blessed  effect  upon 
the  mother  church.  Its  membership  is  larger 
than  ever.  The  Sunday-school  has  also  gained, 
notwithstanding  the  'blood  letting,'  and  in  energy, 
intelligent  working  ability  and  liberality  the  con- 
gregation is  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  per  cent, 
stronger  than  ever  before." 

Commenting  on  this  form  of  Home  Missions  a 
prominent  man  in  the  General  Council  said: 

"It  is  possible  for  pastors,  serving  regular 
charges,  to  do  efficient  work  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  their  fields  of  labor. 

"It  is  possible  for  pastors  and  people  to  do  a 
great  deal  of  such  work  with  little  cost  to  the 
mission  treasuries  of  the  Church. 

"It  is  possible  with  but  little  expense  or  em- 
barrassment to  provide  ample  and  suitable  houses 
for  public  religious  services  in  connection  with 
such  work. 

"Within  the  borders  of  every  one  of  our  synods 
there  are  such  places  by  the  score.  Within  fair 
reach  of  many  an  established  charge  there  are 
points  where  effective  work  of  like  character  can 
be  done.  If  faithful  to  the  trust  which  the  Lord 
has  laid  upon  the  Church  of  the  Reformation  in 


190  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

this  land,  with  ever  increasing  zeal  and  vigor  this 
work  must  be  done.  More  than  ever  before  must 
pastors  and  people  be  awake  to  and  heartily  do 
this  mission  work  at  home. 

"And  why?  Within  twenty-five  years,  with 
present  causes  at  work,  the  population  of  the 
Uyiited  States  will  be  doubled. 

"Twenty-five  years  is  no  long  period.  Our 
young  men  now  will  still  be  young  men  when  this 
mighty  multitude  of  souls  will  be  crying  to  the 
Church  of  the  Living  God  for  spiritual  favors, 
the  Word  and  the  Sacraments.  Twice  as  many 
preaching  stations,  chapels  and  churches;  twice 
as  many  pastors  and  congregations  as  there  now 
are  must  be  provided,  so  that  existing  church 
privileges,  meager  as  they  are,  may  be  secured  for 
the  people  of  this  country  twenty-five  years  hence. 

"Nor  will  this  increased  population  be  found 
only  in  the  unsettled  or  sparely  settled  regions  of 
the  great  West.  In  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  in 
the  Middle  States,  in  the  East,  North  and  South 
also,  right  among  us  and  all  around  us  will  it  be 
found.  Our  thriving  cities  will  become  vastly 
more  populous;  our  towns  and  villages  will  be 
larger;  where  none  now  exist  new  towns  and 
villages  will  be  established ;  farms  will  be  divided 
and  sub-divided  for  the  great  increase  of  people 
who  will  make  homes  in  the  country.  It  requires 
no  prophet's  vision  to  see  these  things. 

"But  all  this  means  mission  work  at  home,  if  it 
be  the  purpose  of  the  Church  to-day  to  do  her  full 


METHODS  OF  CAHRYING  ON  HOME  MISSION  WORK  191 

duty  towards  the  Church  of  the  future.  Her 
destiny,  her  growth  and  influence  are  almost  en- 
tirely in  the  hands  of  the  Church  of  to-day.  It 
rests  upon  the  men  of  to-day,  thoughtful,  far- 
seeing,  sagacious  men,  be  they  pastors  or  laymen, 
who  desire  the  future  increase  of  the  Church,  to 
carefully  look  about  them.  They  must  wisely 
weigh  possibilities  of  church  development;  look 
out  to  lay  hold  upon  all  points  which  may  be  the 
nuclei  of  towns  and  villages,  and  centers  of  new 
and  increased  population.  Faith,  forethought  and 
action  now  will  immeasurably  widen  the  borders 
of  the  Church  for  the  future.  Mission  work  at 
home  dare  not  be  overlooked. 

"It  usually  rests  with  the  pastor  to  make  the 
beginning  in  such  work.  Faithful  pastoral  visits 
among  the  careless  or  neglected,  occasional  ser- 
mons, have  been  the  humble  germs  of  many  a 
successful  mission  and  church.  As  Joshua,  the 
pastor  must  'spy  out  the  land,'  report  its  tempting 
fulness,  and  thus  and  then  arouse  and  encourage 
his  people  to  go  and  possess  the  goodly  heritage. 

''What  openings  for  missioyiary  ivork  are  there 
in  our  neighbourhood?  is  a  topic  which  pastors  and 
church  councils  ought  earnestly  to  consider  at 
their  stated  meetings.  Surrounding  districts 
should  be  carefully  canvassed,  and  upon  the 
slightest  possibility  of  future  good  to  the  Church, 
persistent  and  wise  effort  should  be  put  forth  to 
take  possession  of  the  land  pro  Gloria  Dei  et 
Ecclesiae.     Congregations    should  be    willing  to 


192  I.UTHEEAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

make  changes  in  the  time  and  number  of  their 
services,  if  necessary,  so  that  their  pastor  could 
have  fuller  opportunity  to  obey  the  marching  or- 
ders of  the  Great  Captain:  'go,  preach.'  The 
brethren  should  organize  and  take  charge  of  Sun- 
day-schools, read  sermons,  attend  services — do 
everything  in  their  power,  and  with  cheerfulness, 
too,  that  thus  the  Lord's  work  may  be  helped  on- 
ward. No  one  can  estmiate  the  good  which  faith- 
ful pastors,  wide-awake  councils  and  active  con- 
gregations can  do  and  have  done  by  a  few  years 
of  such  home  work. 

"Observe,  too,  that  this  work  makes  little  drain 
upon  the  treasury  of  the  church.  It  provides 
largely  for  itself  from  the  contributions  of  those 
who  do  not  regularly  give  in  aid  of  ordinary 
church  operations.  It  wonderfully  arouses  sleep- 
ing energies,  interests  new  hearts  and  sets  new 
hands  at  work.  In  thus  going  forth  and  bearing 
her  blessings  to  others,  the  Church  herself  is 
blessed. 

"No  great  outlay  is  needed  for  a  beginning. 
Secure  first  the  best  possible  location.  Be  content 
with  humble  surroundings.  Should  you  build, 
furnish  only  what  is  most  necessary,  and  finish  at 
your  leisure.  Pay  as  you  go.  Let  there  be  no 
debts  to  dishearten  or  deter  you  from  association 
in  the  enterprise,  and  soon  the  mission  will  be  a 
fixed  center  of  holy  influence. 

"Every  heart  and  every  hand  which  faithfully 
works  therein  is  doing  Christ's  work  and  will  re- 


METHODS  OF  CARRYING  ON  HOME  MISSION  WORK  193 

ceive  his  blessing.  Let  not  mission  work  at  home 
he  overlooked  or  neglected." 

The  parochial  form  of  Home  Mission  work  al- 
most developed  into  a  science.  We  give  herew^ith 
a  set  of  rules  drawn  up  by  a  former  Superin- 
tendent of  Missions  of  the  General  Council : 

"It  takes  but  little  study  to  know  where  to  start 
a  Lutheran  Mission.    The  material  is  abundant. 

Choose  your  point,  then  go  ahead.  Don't  talk 
about  it  for  months.  You  will  only  repeat  the 
story  of  the  ridiculus  mus! 

Put  it,  from  the  start,  on  a  distinctly  churchly 
basis.  No  compromise  to  catch  a  few  odd  fish. 
Begin  right  and  it  will  be  easy  to  keep  on  the  right 
track. 

Coming  down  to  details :  make  a  hasty  canvass, 
name,  date  of  opening,  have  a  good,  responsive 
service  for  the  occasion,  interspersed  with  a  few 
brief  addresses,  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  organ- 
ize on  the  first  Sunday. 

Keep  all  money  considerations  in  the  back- 
ground. Give  the  people  to  understand  that  the 
starting  of  the  mission  will  not  cost  them  a  cent, 
and  see  to  it  that  the  contract  is  not  broken.  From 
$100  to  $200  will  furnish  the  school  with  all  nec- 
essary equipments — an  amount  which  any  organi- 
zation can  easily  gather  up.  After  the  people  are 
once  in  it  and  their  interests  are  centered  there, 
they  will  bring  contributions  sufficient  for  its  con- 
tinued support. 

Have  the  school  thoroughly  manned  from  the 


194  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

very  first,  a  good  superintendent,  and  a  capable 
corps  of  teachers.  By  a  previous  arrangement, 
get  the  best  teachers  from  the  mother  church  to 
take  charge  of  classes  unprovided  for,  until  such 
time  as  local  teachers  can  be  secured. 

Music  is  an  essential  feature.  Have  a  willing 
organist,  a  good  leader,  and  let  some  of  the  best 
singers  of  the  present  choir  attend  from  time  to 
time  and  aid  in  carrying  out  the  services. 

Begin  early  to  talk  of  a  new  chapel,  its  needs 
and  advantages.  Laugh  at  all  idea  of  failure.  Be 
confident  of  the  gathering  in  of  funds.  Have 
faith! 

Choose  central  location.  Buy  lot  on  six  months' 
time.  Then  start  subscription.  Plan  chapel.  Talk 
it  up.  Keep  the  ball  rolling.  Lay  cornerstone  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  gather  in  the  people  to  the 
service  from  the  four  winds. 

Once  started,  the  interest  must  not  lag.  Have 
something  to  say  of  plans  and  prospects  at  each 
meeting.  Get  into  the  new  quarters  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  make  something  out  of  the  occasion. 

Unless  there  is  a  very  rapid  advance  in  real 
estate,  let  the  lot  and  building  be  no  more  than 
adequate  to  the  needs  of  the  mission  for  five  or 
ten  years.  Only  as  much  should  be  paid  on  the 
property  as  will  leave  it,  financially,  in  easy  con- 
dition. It  does  a  young  church  good  to  carry  a 
debt  of  a  thousand  or  two — gives  them  something 
to  work  for. 

Start  a  catechetical  class  as  soon  as  practicable. 


METHODS  OF  CARRTTNG  ON  HOME  MISSION  WORK  195 

Work  up  a  membership  list  and  organize  congre- 
gation.   Put  it  on  its  feet  and  tell  it  to  move  on. 

Call  a  pastor  as  early  as  possible.  Make  it  at 
once  an  independent  congregation.  Let  them  now 
develop  their  OM^n  money  resources.  The  sooner 
they  learn  to  support  themselves,  the  better  for 
all  concerned. 

Let  the  mother  church  from  first  to  last  show 
a  proper  interest  in  the  new  enterprise.  It  will 
encourage  it.  We  all  feel  better  if  we  have  good 
backing. 

If  the  town  or  city  is  large  enough  to  sustain 
several  missions,  form  a  central  organization, 
composed  of  the  progressive  members  of  the 
mother  and  daughter  church.  The  two  can  join 
hands  and  work  up  a  third  point,  the  third,  a 
fourth,  and  so  on  ad  infinitum." 

While  these  rules  would  not  be  at  all  adequate 
to-day,  they  are  very  significant.  They  show  that 
our  leaders  had  to  feel  their  way,  that  their  day 
of  vision  had  not  come,  that  their  missionary 
horizon  had  not  broadened.  They  show  that  our 
leaders  had  small  ideas  and  that  their  experience 
was  not  such  as  to  warrant  a  plan  commensurate 
with  the  work  to  be  done  and  the  dignity  of  the 
Church  as  a  factor  in  the  evangelization  of  our 
country.  Our  early  men  had  no  right  conception 
of  the  place  and  influence  of  the  Lutheran  Home 
Mission  work.  That  such  a  plan  would  succeed 
in  certain  localities  no  one  doubts  for  a  moment, 
but  the  Lutheran  Church  of  America  could  never 


196  LUTHEBAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

have  been  advanced  in  this  way.  Such  a  plan 
might  have  developed  the  East,  but  it  never  could 
have  done  the  work  for  the  West. 

The  Synodical  System. 

The  next  forward  step  in  Home  Missions  was 
the  synodical  system.  By  this  plan  whole  synods 
took  up  the  work  of  planting  and  developing  mis- 
sions. This  plan  was  almost  universally  adopted 
in  the  Lutheran  Church.  Its  success  was  so  great 
that  almost  every  synod  used  it,  and  it  is  the 
prevailing  plan  used  to-day.  A  review  of  some 
of  the  larger  Lutheran  bodies  will  show  to  what 
extent  and  with  what  success  the  synodical  system 
has  been  used. 

The  General  Council. 

The  General  Council  used  the  synodical  system 
almost  universally  until  a  few  years  ago.  While 
it  had  a  general  board,  still  every  synod  in  the 
Council  carried  on  independent  mission  work  of 
its  own.  The  success  of  the  synodical  system  has 
been  the  success  of  the  General  Council  in  Home 
Missions  up  to  this  time. 

Swedish  Home  Missions. 

The  Swedish  Home  Mission  work  of  the  General 
Council  is  done  exclusively  by  the  Augustana 
Synod,  as  it  alone  constitutes  the  Swedish  part 
of  the  Council.  The  whole  history  of  this  synod 
is  one  of  Home  Mission  work.     It  began  nearly 


METHODS  OF  CARRYING  ON  HOME  MISSION  WORK  197 

sixty  years  ago  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Its 
field  has  since  grown  to  embrace  nearly  the  whole 
continent.  Immigration  from  Sweden  began  in 
the  middle  forties  and  has  continued  ever  since, 
until  the  Swedish  immigrants  and  their  descend- 
ants now  number  nearly  two  millions  and  a  half. 
They  all  belong  to  the  Lutheran  Church  by  birth, 
training,  and  tradition.  As  the  Augustana  Synod 
is  the  only  Swedish  Lutheran  body  in  America, 
it  is  its  first  great  duty  to  minister  to  their  spir- 
itual wants.  The  diflficulty  of  the  work  is  greatly 
increased  by  the  fact  that  they  are  scattered 
throughout  every  state  and  territory  of  the  Union, 
every  province  and  district  of  Canada,  and  are 
found  even  in  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies.  To 
carry  on  this  great  work  with  greater  vigor  and 
success,  the  Synod  is  divided  into  conferences, 
each  of  which  conducts  the  Home  Mission  work 
within  its  borders. 

The  General  Synod. 
■  After  the  organization  of  the  General  Synod  in 
1820  active  steps  were  taken  to  promote  Home 
Mission  operations.  In  1833  this  body,  seeing  the 
spiritual  destitution  which  prevailed  among  the 
Lutheran  people  of  this  land,  called  upon  its  dis- 
trict synods  to  take  steps  to  meet  the  needs.  The 
synods  took  up  the  work  and  carried  it  on  with 
more  or  less  success  until  the  Home  Mission  work 
was  centralized  under  a  general  board  in  1869. 
Since  that  time  the  work  has  been  carried  on  by 


198  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

one  board  with  excellent  results.  In  unifying  its 
Home  Mission  forces  the  General  Synod  has  taken 
a  step  which  puts  it  in  the  forefront  in  Home  Mis- 
sion work  in  this  country.  For  some  years  the 
General  Council  has  been  busy  unifying  its  Eng- 
lish Home  Mission  work,  and  the  results  so  far 
are  very  gratifying.  No  doubt  other  synods  will 
follow  this  example  in  the  near  future.  The  time 
has  come  when  the  synodical  system  must  give 
place  to  a  larger  and  more  effective  system.  The 
final  victory  will  not  be  won  until  all  the  synods 
unify  their  Home  Mission  forces  under  one  head. 

The  Missouri  Synod. 

The  Missouri  Synod  has  always  devoted  its 
principal  energy  to  gathering  into  the  Church 
the  immigrant  Germans,  organizing  many  new 
congregations  every  year.  The  work  of  Home 
Missions  is  under  control  of  the  district  synods, 
and  only  such  funds  as  are  not  needed  by  each 
district  are  paid  into  the  general  fund.  Great 
success  has  attended  the  efforts  as  is  shown  by 
the  growth  of  this  body. 

The  Joint  Synod  of  Ohio. 

The  Home  Mission  work  of  this  synod  stretches 
over  a  wide  territory.  It  is  carried  on  chiefly 
among  German  immigrants  in  the  West,  although 
the  English  interests  are  not  overlooked. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
Beginning  a  Mission  Congregation. 

Having  made  a  study  of  general  conditions,  we 
now  come  to  the  practical  work  of  beginning  a 
mission  congregation.  Our  theories  about  Home 
Missions  must  now  be  put  to  the  test.  The  work 
must  be  done.  How  shall  the  missionary  begin? 
What  shall  he  do  first?  These  are  the  questions 
that  confront  the  worker  on  the  field. 

Formerly  the  custom  was,  for  the  pastor  in- 
terested, to  select  a  community  which  he  thought 
desirable,  announce  that  he  was  on  the  field,  ap- 
point a  time  and  place  for  service,  and  wait  for 
the  people  to  come.  Ofttimes  this  was  a  success, 
ofttimes  it  was  a  failure.  It  was  an  unsystema- 
tic way  of  beginning  mission  work.  Success  de- 
pended upon  good  luck  as  much  as  upon  good 
judgment  and  hard  work.  If  the  missionary  was 
fortunate  in  selecting  a  good  field  he  was  success- 
ful, if  his  field  was  unfavorable  his  work  was  a 
failure.  Often  much  money,  labor,  and  time  were 
expended  before  it  was  discovered  that  the  work 
had  been  wrongly  located.     The   day  for  such 


200  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

"hit  or  miss"  methods  is  passed,  and  we  hope 
passed  for  good. 

A  General  Survey  of  the  Community. 

The  first  step  in  beginning  a  mission  congre- 
gation is  to  make  a  general  survey  of  the  com- 
munity by  a  canvass.  Having  chosen  a  prospec- 
tive community,  the  missionary  must  find  out 
what  people  predominate  in  that  community.  In 
cities  and  large  towns  chis  can  best  be  done  by 
a  house  to  house  canvass.  Going  from  door  to 
door  the  missionary  interviews  the  people  and 
gathers  his  information.  Having  made  such  a 
canvass,  the  missionary  is  in  possession  of  facts 
that  will  enable  him  to  determine  positively 
whether  there  are  people  enough  in  the  commun- 
ity to  warrant  the  beginning  of  the  work.  The 
matter  of  a  canvass  will  take  several  days  or 
several  weeks,  but  it  puts  facts  into  the  posses- 
sion of  the  missionary  which  he  could  not  ac- 
quire in  months  by  announcing  a  service  and  be- 
ginning the  work  at  once. 

Such  a  canvass  will  reveal  the  fact  whether 
there  are  unchurched  Lutherans  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. If  there  are  no  Lutheran  people  in  the 
community,  the  probabilities  are  that  it  would 
be  unwise  to  begin  a  work.  While  Lutheran 
Home  Mission  work  does  gather  in  those  who  are 
not  Lutheran,  still  our  mission  leaders  consider 
it  unwise  to  begin  a  work  without  a  nucleus  of 
Lutheran  people. 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION  CONGREGATION  201 

The  Permanency  of  the  People. 

Taking  it  for  granted  that  the  canvass  reveals 
a  number  of  people,  the  next  question  to  be  con- 
sidered is  the  permanency  of  the  people.  There 
may  be  an  abundance  of  material  in  the  commun- 
ity, but  will  it  remain  there?  In  this  industrial 
age  the  population  often  shifts  so  quickly  that 
after  the  missionary  has  begun  a  promising  work 
he  suddenly  finds  his  people  have  moved  away  and 
left  him.  We  know  of  cases  where  thousands 
of  dollars  have  been  spent  in  erecting  mission 
churches,  and  then  the  church  was  left  without 
a  congregation.  The  missionary  must  anticipate 
such  a  possibility.  Such  an  occurrence  is  apt  to 
happen  in  a  community  where  all  the  people  are 
dependent  upon  some  one  industry.  Industrial 
changes  take  place  rapidly,  and  the  removal  of 
a  factory  or  the  dying  out  of  an  industry  is  apt 
to  send  the  people  elsewhere  for  employment. 
As  a  general  rule  it  is  unwise  to  start  a  mission 
which  must  depend  for  its  future  upon  a  class 
of  people  who  are  not  permanently  located  in 
the  community.  We  do  not  deny  that  such  peo- 
ple need  the  Gospel.  They  need  it  badly,  but  the 
question  for  the  missionary  to  settle  is  whether 
he  can  establish  the  Church  in  their  midst  or 
not.  While  the  Home  Missionary  gladly  preaches 
the  Gospel  everywhere,  his  first  object  is  to  firm- 
ly plant  the  Church. 

Lutheran  Home  Missions.  14 


202  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

The  Social  Life  of  the  Community. 

The  social  life  of  the  community  is  a  large  fac- 
tor in  determining  the  advisability  of  beginning 
a  work.  Where  the  social  life  is  on  a  low  plane 
the  contingencies  will  be  much  greater.  Where 
the  social  life  is  of  a  high  standard  the  advance- 
ment of  the  work  will  be  more  rapid.  We  do 
not  claim  that  Lutheran  Home  Mission  work 
should  not  be  carried  on  among  those  of  a  low 
plane  of  social  life.  What  we  do  claim  is,  that 
the  missionary  must  take  this  into  consideration 
before  he  starts  his  work.  His  whole  method  of 
procedure  and  future  development  will  be  deter- 
mined largely  by  the  social  life  of  the  people. 
Methods  which  are  successful  among  people  of 
one  stratum  of  social  life  are  totally  inadequate 
among  people  of  another  plane  of  social  life. 

The  Financial  Standing  of  the  People. 

In  making  a  general  survey  of  the  community, 
the  financial  standing  of  the  people  must  be  taken 
into  consideration.  Are  the  people  of  the  com- 
munity in  a  position  to  support  a  church  in  their 
midst?  This  is  an  important  question.  While 
the  Home  Mission  treasury  aids  mission  churches 
it  does  not  have  as  its  object  the  continual  sup- 
port of  such  churches.  It  is  supposed  that  every 
mission  church  will  eventually  grow  into  a  self- 
supporting  congregation. 

The  financial  standing  of  the  people  not  only 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION   CONGREGATION  203 

determines  the  possibility  of  establishing  a  church 
in  their  midst,  but  it  also  determines  the  kind 
of  a  church  that  can  be  established.  Will  it 
take  a  long,  hard  struggle  to  build  up  a  mission 
in  the  community,  or  will  it  grow  rapidly  and 
quickly  develop  into  a  strong  congregation?  The 
answer  to  these  questions  often  is  determined 
by  the  financial  standing  of  the  people.  If  the 
people  are  in  fairly  good  circumstances,  other 
things  being  equal,  the  mission  will  prosper.  But 
if  the  people  are  poor,  the  probabilities  are  that 
it  will  take  a  long  time  to  bring  the  mission  to 
the  point  of  self-sustentation. 

In  investigating  the  financial  standing  of  the 
people  of  a  community  we  do  not  expect  the  mis- 
sionary to  pay  a  visit  to  the  bank  and  find  out 
the  amount  of  their  chequing  account  and  sav- 
ings deposits,  but  we  do  expect  him  to  find  out 
whether  the  people  are  property-owners  or  not. 
People  who  own  property  are  always  settled  and 
more  readily  welcome  a  church  in  their  midst 
than  those  who  rent.  Renters  are  never  settled 
and  seldom  know  where  they  will  be  next  year, 
and  consequently  they  are  not  much  interested 
in  building  up  a  church  in  a  community  where 
they  do  not  expect  to  remain  for  any  length  of 
time. 

A  missionary  is  fortunate  when  he  finds  a 
number  of  property-owners  who  are  willing  to 
enter  into  the  enterprise;  for  this  will  give  a 
standing  and  permanency  to  the  work  which  is 


204  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

very  desirable.  Property-owners  stay  in  the 
neighborhood  and  welcome  a  church  in  their 
midst. 

The  Occupation  of  the  People. 

The  occupation  of  the  people  must  be  taken  into 
consideration.  This  often  determines  not  only 
their  permanency,  but  their  attitude  towards  the 
Church.  There  are  certain  occupations  which 
make  it  impossible  for  the  people  to  take  a  vital 
interest  in  church  work.  It  is  difficult  to  estab- 
lish a  mission  in  a  community  where  the  major- 
ity of  the  people  are  employed  in  railroading,  or 
in  the  street-car  service.  In  railroad  towns  and 
certain  sections  of  large  cities  we  find  large  com- 
munities of  such  people.  They  need  the  minis- 
trations of  the  Church,  but  the  missionary  will 
find  it  difficult  to  build  up  his  work  among  them. 
A  community  where  the  occupation  of  the  people 
is  varied  and  they  are  not  dependent  upon  one 
single  industry  is  preferable. 

The  missionary  must  ascertain  as  far  as  pos- 
sible what  the  occupation  of  his  prospective  mem- 
bers is.  If  they  are  all  factory  laborers,  that 
will  to  a  large  extent  influence  the  work. 

Is  the  community  inhabited  by  people  who  are 
employed  in  office  work?  This  he  should  know. 
As  a  general  rule,  people  who  are  employed  in 
offices  are  very  desirable  people  to  get  interested 
in  a  mission  enterprise. 

People  with  small  businesses  are  always  val- 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION  CONGREGATION  205 

uable  to  a  mission  enterprise.  The  grocer,  the 
butcher,  the  baker,  the  druggist  are  in  evidence 
in  every  community,  and  happy  is  the  missionary 
who  can  enlist  their  interest.  Such  people  are, 
as  a  rule,  public-spirited  and  they  touch  the  life 
of  the  community  more  quickly  than  any  other 
people.  When  the  business  people  of  a  commun- 
ity are  unfriendly  and  opposed  to  a  mission  en- 
terprise, that  fact  will  retard  the  work.  It  is 
almost  absolutely  necessary  for  the  missionary 
to  get  the  good  will,  if  not  the  active  coopera- 
tion, of  the  business  interests  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  mission. 

The  leisure  class  must  be  taken  into  conside- 
ration. There  may  not  be  many  people  of  leisure 
in  the  community,  but  if  there  is  one  or  two,  they 
may  be  very  useful  to  the  mission.  When  the 
missionary  has  some  one  interested  in  the  mis- 
sion who  has  time  to  spend  in  the  work,  he  has 
a  power.  Sometimes  a  man  or  woman  who  can 
devote  time  in  the  interest  of  a  mission  can  do 
more  than  the  missionary  himself.  People  of 
leisure  are,  as  a  rule,  people  of  influence  and 
standing,  and  are  a  valuable  addition  to  the  work. 

Professional  people  must  not  be  overlooked.  A 
doctor,  a  lawyer,  a  school-teacher,  or  a  professor 
are  very  important  people.  Their  presence  in 
the  membership  of  a  mission  gives  prestige  to 
the  work  and  produces  confidence  in  the  com- 
munity. The  influence  of  a  professional  man  is 
worth  much  to  a  mission  congregation. 


206  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

Roomers  and  students  in  the  neighborhood  must 
not  be  forgotten.  While  they  are  often  looked 
upon  as  transient,  yet  they  make  valuable  addi- 
tions to  the  young  church.  The  best  church  mem- 
bers and  church  workers  often  come  from  the 
most  unexpected  sources,  and  this  class  furnishes 
its  full  share. 

Religious  Conditions  of  the  Community. 

The  religous  conditions  of  the  community  are 
very  important  factors  to  be  taken  into  conside- 
ration. That  there  may  be  a  few  Lutheran  fam- 
ilies in  a  neighborhood  is  no  excuse  for  starting 
a  mission  congregation.  The  question  is  whether 
the  religous  destitution  of  the  community  is  such 
as  to  warrant  the  beginning  of  another  church. 

Churches  in  the  Community. 

The  kind  and  number  of  Churches  in  the  com- 
munity must  be  taken  into  consideration.  If  the 
existing  Churches  are  taking  care  of  the  spiritual 
needs  of  the  people  there  is  no  need  to  begin  an- 
other. This,  of  course,  is  a  difficult  thing  to  de- 
termine. We  Lutherans  believe,  and  rightly  so, 
that  other  denominations  cannot  take  care  of  the 
people  who  hold  to  the  Lutheran  faith.  While 
this  is  true,  yet  we  must  concede  that  people  are 
being  saved  in  other  Churches,  and  that  even  Lu- 
therans can  be  saved  in  other  Churches.  Denom- 
inational loyalty  and  pride  would  naturally 
prompt  us  to  erect  our  churches  wherever  we 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION  CONGREGATION  207 

find  those  of  our  faith  without  a  church,  and  yet 
there  are  times  when  denominational  loyalty  and 
pride  must  give  way  to  common  sense.  If  the 
community  is  overchurched  already,  why  bring 
another  struggling  mission  into  existence?  If 
there  is  a  work  in  that  community  to  be  done 
which  cannot  be  done  by  the  Churches  already 
there,  then  the  Lutheran  Church  has  a  field  and 
a  duty,  but  not  otherwise.  Sometimes  we  are 
too  hasty  in  coming  to  conclusions.  The  strength, 
efficiency,  and  ability  of  the  other  Churches  must 
be  considered  before  the  missionary  begins  active 
operations  towards  beginning  and  building  an- 
other church.  The  day  of  proselyting  and  build- 
ing altar  against  altar  is  passed,  and  we  Luther- 
ans must  learn  that  it  is  passed. 

Furthermore,  unless  there  is  a  divine  call  to 
build  a  church  in  a  community  no  church  should 
be  built.  And  without  divine  sanction  no  church 
can  prosper.  We  doubt  whether  God  ever  called 
a  Lutheran  missionary  pastor  or  any  other  pastor 
to  bring  into  existence  a  church  in  a  community 
that  was  already  overchurched.  There  are  too 
many  places  actually  destitute  of  the  Gospel  for 
the  Church  to  spend  time,  money  and  energy  in 
a  place  where  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people 
are  adequately  cared  for. 

The  Religious  Conditions  of  the  People. 

The  religious  conditions  of  the  community  must 
be  studied  by  the  missionary.    A  community  may 


208  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

have  plenty  of  churches  and  yet  it  may  be  a  god- 
less community.  On  the  other  hand,  the  religious 
life  of  the  people  may  be  of  a  high  order  when 
seemingly  there  is  scarcity  of  churches.  The  re- 
ligious feeling  and  attitude  of  the  people  in  a 
neighborhood  will  be  a  prominent  factor  in  the 
development  of  the  mission  congregation.  It  is 
difficult  to  build  up  a  successful  work  in  a  com- 
munity that  is  full  of  rationalists  and  free- 
thinkers. The  very  air  seems  to  be  charged  with 
their  unbelief,  and  it  affects  all  who  live  in  that 
community  whether  they  know  it  or  not.  Natur- 
ally this  is  the  kind  of  a  community  where  the 
Church  should  be  planted,  but  let  the  missionary 
who  plants  it  not  expect  too  much  in  the  begin- 
ning. He  will  have  to  fight  for  every  soul  he 
wins  and  for  every  step  of  progress  his  mission 
makes.  It  makes  all  the  difference  in  the  world 
whether  the  people  of  the  community  are  reli- 
giously inclined  or  not.  Some  of  our  most  pros- 
perous missions  have  been  established  in  just  such 
communities,  but  it  has  taken  faith,  stubborn  per- 
severance, and  years  of  work  to  bring  them  up 
to  the  point  of  self-support  and  to  gain  for  them 
the  respect  and  good  will  of  the  people  around. 

Again,  let  the  missionary  note  well  the  number 
of  backsliders,  indifferent,  and  degenerate  that 
may  be  in  the  neighborhood.  They  need  the  Gos- 
pel, perhaps  more  than  others,  but  they  are  poor 
material  with  which  to  begin  a  mission  church. 
If  the  work  of  Home  Missions  was  only  to  bring 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION  CONGREGATION  209 

the  Gospel  to  the  destitute,  then  these  should  be 
the  first  to  be  sought  by  the  missionary,  but  this 
work  has  another  aim  and  that  is  to  permanently 
establish  the  Church  in  a  particular  locality.  Such 
people  are  very  good  subjects  for  the  preaching 
of  the  Gospel,  but  they  make  very  poor  pillars  in 
the  Church  of  Christ.  Not  that  we  advise  the 
missionary  to  neglect  them,  but  that  he  the  more 
seek  out  those  of  good  character  and  pure  lives 
who  have  no  church  connections  and  get  them  in- 
terested. Let  it  be  distinctly  understood  that  the 
worK  of  Home  Missions  addresses  itself  not  only 
to  those  who  have  gone  back  in  their  spiritual 
life,  but  to  those  who  are  without  church  connec- 
tions. 

Types  of  Lutherans  in  the  Community. 

Taking  it  for  granted  that  the  canvass  reveals 
the  presence  of  a  sufficient  number  of  people  to 
warrant  the  beginning  of  work  in  that  locality,  a 
careful  analysis  of  the  material  should  be  made. 
First  there  will  be  found  a  number  of  earnest 
people  who  are  without  church  connection.  These 
are  the  ones  who  will  hail  with  delight  the  coming 
of  the  missionary  and  they  will  be  his  chief  sup- 
porters. These  are  the  ones  who  will  take  up  the 
work  in  earnest  and  will  make  glad  his  heart. 
The  larger  the  number  of  such  persons  the  mis- 
sionary finds,  the  greater  will  be  his  success  in 
the  community. 

He  will  also  find  those  who  have  at  one  time 


210  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

been  connected  with  the  Lutheran  Church,  but 
who  cared  little  for  its  ministrations  and  have 
willingly  wandered  away  from  its  folds.  Prob- 
ably a  large  number  will  belong  to  this  class.  The 
fires  of  living  faith  can  again  be  kindled  in  these 
hearts,  but  it  will  take  time,  labor,  and  prayer. 
Some  of  this  class  will  develop  into  active  Chris- 
tians and  prove  a  blessing  to  the  Church,  but 
many  of  them  will  remain  as  a  burden  upon  the 
heart  of  the  missionary. 

Still  another  class  of  Lutherans  that  will  be 
found  during  the  canvass  will  be  those  who  are 
Lutherans  in  name,  but  never  were  spiritually 
minded  people.  Whether  the  Lutheran  Church 
produces  a  larger  number  of  this  kind  of  people 
than  the  other  Churches  we  do  not  know,  but  this 
we  do  know,  that  the  Lutheran  Home  Missionary 
finds  an  abundance  of  such  people.  They  take 
pride  in  the  fact  that  they  were  confirmed  in  the 
Church,  they  are  careful  to  have  their  children 
baptized,  but  when  it  comes  to  anything  further 
they  do  not  care.  They  will  not  identify  them- 
selves with  the  work.  Once  in  a  while  the  mis- 
sionary will  be  able  to  pluck  a  brand  from  the 
burning,  but  not  often.  Such  people  are  the 
worry  of  the  missionary's  life.  He  feels  a  special 
duty  towards  them.  He  knows  that  if  he  cannot 
reach  them  with  the  Gospel  ministrations  no  one 
else  can,  and  yet  the  months  and  years  pass  and 
they  are  still  unsaved.  It  takes  grace,  patience, 
and  power  from  on  high  to  bring  them  to  a  reali- 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION  CONGREGATION  211 

zation  of  their  sinful  condition  and  lead  them  into 
the  Church. 

The  Advisability  of  Starting  a  Mission  in  the 
Community. 

After  the  missionary  has  canvassed  the  locality 
and  analyzed  the  material,  then,  and  not  till  then, 
is  he  in  a  position  to  decide  whether  work  should 
be  begun  or  not.  Having  found  the  material, 
several  other  things  must  be  considered  before 
he  goes  forward  with  the  work. 

The  Need  of  a  Lutheran  Church. 

Is  there  an  actual  need  for  a  Lutheran  Church 
in  this  community?  This  is  now  the  question 
that  must  be  settled.  Is  there  a  work  to  be  done 
in  this  community  that  cannot  be  done  by  the 
forces  already  at  work?  Are  there  people  here 
who,  if  not  saved  by  the  Lutheran  Church,  will 
not  be  saved?  If  such  is  the  case,  then  there 
is  a  real  need  for  Lutheran  Home  Mission  work, 
and  the  missionary  should  go  forward.  But  a 
half-dozen  Lutheran  families  in  a  locality  do  not 
necessarily  constitute  a  dire  need  for  a  Lutheran 
Church.  It  may  be  that  their  spiritual  wants  can 
be  supplied  by  a  Lutheran  Church  at  some  dis- 
tance. Missions  cannot  be  started  simply  for  the 
convenience  of  a  few  people.  There  must  be  a 
positive  need  or  there  is  no  warrant  for  beginning 
the  work. 


212  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

The  Attitude  of  the  Community  Towards  the 
Proposed  Church. 

We  have  said  before  that  it  is  very  necessary 
to  get  the  good  will  of  certain  classes  of  people 
in  the  community.  We  wish  to  say  also  that  it  is 
just  as  necessary  to  get  the  good  will  of  the  com- 
munity as  such.  When  once  the  missionary  ac- 
quires the  good  will  of  a  community,  then  his 
work  will  be  a  success.  To  start  a  mission  against 
the  good  will  of  the  people  to  whom  it  is  supposed 
to  minister,  will  be  a  difficult  problem  indeed. 
Here  is  where  the  tact,  discretion,  and  wisdom 
of  the  missionary  will  have  to  be  used.  That  man 
who  does  not  know  how  to  go  about  gaining  the 
good  will  of  a  community  is  not  qualified  to  be 
a  Home  Missionary.  To  gain  the  good  will  of  a 
community  is  not  as  difficult  as  it  may  be  imag- 
ined. Let  the  missionary  be  a  man  with  single- 
ness of  purpose  to  serve  God,  and  then  let  him 
have  good  common  sense,  and  men  will  respect 
him  as  a  minister  and  honor  his  work. 

The  Attitude   of  Other  Churches   Towards   the 
Proposed  Church. 

The  missionary  must  consider  the  attitude  of 
other  Churches  in  the  neighborhood.  Particularly 
must  he  take  into  consideration  the  attitude  of 
other  Lutheran  Churches.  It  may  seem  strange, 
but  Lutheran  altars  have  often  been  erected  over 
against  Lutheran  altars.    Synodical  partizanship 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION   CONGREGATION  213 

has  done  untold  harm  to  the  Lutheran  Church. 
This  is  true  in  the  German,  the  Scandinavian,  and 
the  American  branches  of  our  Church.  In  our 
eagerness  to  build  up  English  Lutheran  missions 
we  have  often  not  taken  into  consideration  the 
attitude  of  foreign-speaking  Lutheran  Churches 
in  the  vicinity  of  our  proposed  location.  But  we 
have  learned  from  experience  that  it  is  a  serious 
mistake  to  start  an  English  mission  without  first 
seriously  canvassing  all  the  conditions  that  must 
be  met  later  on. 

Star'ting  the  Mission. 

Having  canvassed  the  community,  analyzed  the 
material,  considered  the  contingencies,  and  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  there  is  need  for  a  Lutheran 
Church,  the  problem  now  before  the  missionary  is 
actually  starting.  Much  depends  upon  a  right 
start.  In  fact,  ofttimes  a  right  start  is  half  of 
the  battle. 

Securing  a  Place  of  Meeting. 

The  place  of  meeting  is  the  first  important 
item.  Here  the  missionary  will  meet  his  first 
serious  problem.  The  place  of  meeting  should, 
if  possible,  be  centrally  located  in  the  community 
which  the  proposed  mission  is  to  serve.  To  start 
in  a  place  that  is  located  at  one  side  of  the  terri- 
tory is  a  mistake.  But  conditions  alone  will  de- 
termine the  place  of  meeting.  As  a  general  rule 
the  missionary  has  to  secure  whatever  he  can, 


214  LUTHEBAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

not  what  he  would  like.  Unless  he  has  a  portable 
chapel  at  his  command  the  place  will  have  to  be 
some  building  in  the  neighborhood.  A  vacant 
store  room,  a  hall,  or  possibly  a  church  will  be 
the  place  of  meeting. 

Many  a  Lutheran  mission  has  been  started  in 
a  hall.  The  surroundings  and  furnishings  of  a 
hall  are  not  conducive  to  the  spirit  of  worship, 
but  when  nothing  else  can  be  obtained  this  will 
have  to  do. 

Other  things  being  equal,  we  would  prefer  a 
store  room  to  a  hall.  Here  the  mission  has  pos- 
session of  the  property  and  can  arrange  altar 
and  pulpit,  etc.,  to  look  rather  presentable.  When 
a  church  can  be  secured,  that  is  far  preferable. 
But  if  the  work  is  to  be  begun  in  rented  quarters 
it  is  advisable  to  arrange  the  place  in  as  churchly 
a  manner  as  possible.  Let  there  be  an  altar,  even 
if  it  is  only  a  temporary  structure.  Let  there  be 
a  pulpit  and  a  reading  desk,  and  offering  plates. 
In  every  way  possible  let  the  surroundings  im- 
press upon  the  persons  coming  the  idea  of  rev- 
erence and  worship.  Our  Lutheran  people  are 
accustomed  to  churchly  surroundings,  and  they 
will  rejoice  when  they  come  into  the  mission  to 
see  that  it  at  least  resembles  that  which  they 
were  used  to  when  they  did  formerly  attend 
church.  It  is  better  to  delay  the  opening  service 
a  week  or  two  and  have  the  place  properly  ar- 
ranged, than  to  begin  in  a  place  that  is  bare  and 
uninviting. 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION  CONGREGATION  215 

Wo7'king  up  an  Interest  in  the  Community. 

The  place  of  meeting  having  been  secured,  the 
next  step  is  to  get  people  to  the  service.  Ofttimes 
a  Sunday-school  is  started  first  and  in  this  way 
the  missionary  gets  acquainted  with  the  people. 
But  many  of  our  best  workers  now  prefer  starting 
the  church  services  first,  or  both  together.  In 
our  judgment,  whenever  possible,  the  church 
should  be  started  first.  The  object  of  the  en- 
deavor is  to  plant  a  church,  and  we  believe  it  is 
a  mistake  to  first  draw  the  attention  of  the  people 
to  the  school,  which  is  the  smaller  of  the  two, 
than  to  the  church,  which  is  the  main  idea.  Let 
the  community  know  that  this  is  no  experiment 
with  a  Sunday-school,  but  an  effort  to  establish 
a  church,  and  it  will  respond.  No  community 
cares  to  experiment,  but  almost  any  community 
will  respond  to  an  effort  at  that  which  is  to  be 
permanent.  Let  the  community  know  that  this 
is  not  an  experiment,  but  an  effort  to  actually 
plant  a  church. 

In  working  up  an  interest  in  the  community, 
the  missionary  must  be  able  to  show  that  there 
is  a  need  for  a  Lutheran  Church.  If  he  is  unable 
to  convince  the  people  of  the  need  he  will  be 
unable  to  start  his  work  successfully.  His  first 
endeavor  then  will  be  to  impress  upon  those  whom 
he  wishes  to  interest  in  the  enterprise  the  abso- 
lute need  of  the  work.  If  he  is  able  to  do  this, 
then  he  will  have  a  following  immediately. 


216  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

In  working  up  an  interest  the  missionary  will 
have  to  depend  upon  private  calls.  He  will  have 
to  visit  the  people  in  their  homes  and  talk  over 
the  needs  and  in  this  way  gain  them  to  his  cause. 

Having  secured  a  few  who  are  interested,  he 
should  at  once  put  them  to  work.  If  he  can  get 
a  man  of  some  standing  who  will  go  with  him 
into  the  homes  of  others  he  has  a  mighty  power 
on  his  side.  A  few  interested  individuals  can  do 
more  to  work  up  an  interest  in  the  community 
than  the  missionary  himself. 

After  the  material  has  been  canvassed  he  may 
call  a  preliminary  meeting,  if  he  thinks  it  ad- 
visable. Often  such  a  meeting  will  produce  en- 
thusiasm, and  that  is  what  he  now  needs. 

The  missionary  must  use  publicity  in  working 
up  an  interest  in  his  work.  He  should  use  the 
public  press  as  much  as  he  can.  Usually  the 
papers  of  the  city,  if  properly  approached,  will 
give  him  a  short  "write  up"  in  the  news  columns, 
and  also  space  in  the  "Church  Notices."  The 
missionary  should  not  hesitate  to  take  advantage 
of  this.  In  fact  it  would  not  be  out  of  place  for 
him  to  pay  for  space  in  the  papers  so  that  his 
enterprise  may  fully  come  before  the  public.  He 
is  not  to  let  his  light  shine  under  a  bushel,  but 
from  a  candlestick,  where  all  may  see  it. 

Handbills  and  dodgers  can  be  used  effectively 
in  advertising  the  place,  time,  and  nature  of  the 
services.  A  wise  use  of  advertising  material  will 
prove  very  effective  in  getting  the  work  before 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION  CONGREGATION  217 

the  people.  Large  signs  in  windows  announcing 
the  services  scattered  throughout  the  neighbor- 
hood will  be  very  effective  in  spreading  informa- 
tion concerning  the  mission. 

All  advertising  is  only  secondary.  The  real 
interest  will  depend  upon  the  missionary  himself. 
Possibly  nowhere  in  church  work  does  the  per- 
sonality touch  mean  so  much  as  in  working  up 
an  interest  in  the  community.  The  personality 
of  the  missionary  means  much.  Whether  we  like 
to  admit  it  or  not,  people  are  attracted  by  the 
man  as  much  as  they  are  by  the  Gospel  he 
preaches.  In  its  final  analysis  interest  in  the 
work  will  depend  upon  his  ability  to  use  the 
Gospel. 

Choosing  the  Material  with  ivhich  to  Begin. 

It  may  seem  strange  to  say  that  the  missionary 
should  choose  the  material  with  which  he  begins 
his  work,  but  this  is  just  what  he  must  do.  The 
reputation  of  the  work  from  the  very  beginning 
will  be  based,  not  upon  the  missionary,  but  upon 
the  people  who  show  an  interest  in  the  work.  If 
persons  of  unsavory  reputation  in  the  community 
appear  to  be  leaders  in  the  enterprise  the  com- 
munity will  at  once  form  a  poor  opinion  of  the 
whole  movement.  If  persons  of  character  and 
standing  in  the  neighborhood  show  an  interest 
and  take  part,  then  the  community  as  such  will 
form  a  good  opinion  of  the  enterprise  and  will 
at  least  take  a  tolerating  attitude  towards  the 

Lutheran  Home   Missions.  16 


218  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

work.  The  reputation  of  the  mission  and  the 
attitude  of  the  community  depend  entirely  upon 
the  persons  who  take  part.  Therefore  we  say 
that  it  is  very  necessary  for  the  missionary  to 
choose  his  material  with  which  to  begin. 

In  choosing  his  material  the  missionary  must 
use  the  wisest  discretion.  No  one  but  himself 
must  know  that  any  discrimination  has  been 
made.  For  him  to  go  into  a  community  and  let 
it  be  known  that  he  is  only  seeking  a  certain  class 
of  people  means  sure  defeat.  Everybody  must  be 
invited.  Everybody  must  be  made  welcome,  but 
not  everyone  must  be  allowed  to  assume  leader- 
ship in  the  undertaking.  That  this  is  a  wise  cau- 
tion can  be  seen  from  the  fact  that  persons  who 
have  been  trouble-makers  in  other  congregations 
are  very  apt  to  come  forward  and  offer  to  assume 
responsibility  in  the  new  enterprise.  For  the 
missionary  to  permit  such  persons  to  assume  a 
prominent  place  would  be  fatal  folly ;  for  persons 
who  have  been  trouble-makers  in  one  church  will 
be  trouble-makers  in  another.  And  while  their 
reputation  may  not  be  known  to  the  missionary 
it  is  known  in  the  community,  and  their  presence 
and  activity  in  the  mission  will  be  a  hindrance 
instead  of  a  help.  Unless  the  missionary  has  the 
ability  to  read  character  and  understand  human 
nature  he  will  be  imposed  upon  from  the  very 
beginning.  It  is  imperative  to  the  success  of  the 
work  that  he  makes  a  wise  choice  of  his  material 
with  which  to  begin. 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION  CONGREGATION  219 

The  First  Service. 

The  first  service  is  not  only  of  historical  in- 
terest but  of  vital  importance  to  the  mission. 
Upon  this  service  depends  much  of  the  future 
success  of  the  work.  First  impressions  are 
lasting,  and  this  is  particularly  true  of  the  first 
service  of  a  mission  congregation.  This  first 
service  should  be  carefully  planned  and  arranged. 
The  place  of  service  should  be  in  the  best  of  order 
and  the  service  should  be  conducted  with  the 
dignity  and  solemnity  becoming  a  church  service. 
Even  though  the  attendance  may  be  small  it 
should  leave  the  impression  of  having  been  a 
complete  church  service.  In  order  to  make  the 
service  what  it  should  be  previous  rehearsals  may 
have  been  necessary. 

The  full  liturgy  or  Morning  Service  should  be 
used.  At  first  thought  this  may  seem  impossible, 
but  experience  has  proven  that  it  is  the  best  way. 
Use  the  complete  service  from  the  beginning  and 
the  mission  will  be  spared  the  agony  of  trying  to 
introduce  it  later  in  life.  Let  the  officiating 
clergyman  wear  the  robe  at  this  first  service. 
The  robe  is  the  Lutheran  emblem  of  office,  and 
lends  dignity  to  the  service.  To  wear  the  robe 
at  the  first  service  also  obviates  an  argument  later 
on  about  the  advisability  of  introducing  it  into 
the  church. 

Whenever  the  missionary  can  draw  on  a  neigh- 
boring church  for  help  in  conducting  the  first 


220  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

service  he  should  do  so.  On  the  question  of  the 
first  service  we  quote  Rev.  Ashmead  Schaeffer  at 
length.  He  says:  "Another  important  thing  in 
starting  a  mission  is  to  begin  as  it  is  intended 
to  continue  the  work.  Too  often  it  happens  that 
those  who  have  the  direction  of  affairs  at  the 
beginning  think  that  after  a  start  is  made  the 
necessary  changes  can  be  effected  to  bring  all 
things  into  the  usual  order  and  harmonious  work- 
ing of  a  Lutheran  Church.  This  is  a  mistake,  and 
often  is  the  cause  of  more  or  less  friction  after- 
wards. The  very  first  service  should  be  just  what 
the  service  is  to  be  on  every  following  Sunday. 
And  in  these  days  surely  it  is  not  so  difficult  to 
have  the  full  service  of  the  Church  Book  rendered 
at  such  a  time.  In  a  large  city  individual  mem- 
bers or  even  a  choir  from  some  established  con- 
gregation can  be  'borrowed'  to  conduct  the 
responsive  part  of  the  Service,  and  to  show  those 
who  are  not  of  us  how  beautiful,  impressive,  and 
devotional  is  the  Service  of  the  Church.  But 
along  with  this  it  is  important  to  aim  to  have 
all  take  part  in  the  service,  which  can  only  be  done 
by  having  a  good  supply  of  Church  Books  on  hand, 
or  the  Order  of  Service  printed,  with  a  number  of 
hymns,  so  that  every  person  present  can  have 
one  and  join  his  voice  with  others,  or  follow  the 
congregation  as  it  sings  praise  unto  God. 

"Then  too,  the  Clerical  Robe  should  not  be 
wanting.  If  worn  at  the  first  service  no  opposi- 
tion will  ever  be  heard ;  but  let  an  effort  be  made 


BEGINNING  A  MISSION   CONGREGATION  221 

to  introduce  it  later,  and  there  will  be  a  murmur 
of  dissatisfaction  that,  to  say  the  least,  will  be  un- 
pleasant. Of  course,  circumstances  here,  as  in 
every  other  case,  will  have  some  weight,  but  very 
often  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  using  the  robe 
at  the  first  service  are  only  seeming,  while  the 
wisdom  of  so  doing  must  be  apparent  to  all. 

"There  is  no  question  that  the  music  rendered 
at  the  service  of  a  mission  should  receive  all 
proper  attention.  If  good  music  makes  our 
churches  attractive  to  many,  is  it  wise  to  be  in- 
different in  this  matter  in  a  mission  ?  In  this  field 
of  church  work  paid  choirs  are  not  to  be  thought 
of,  and  they  should  not  be,  even  if  the  money 
were  provided  for  such  expenditure,  but  every 
legitimate  and  earnest  effort  should  be  made  to 
secure  good  singing  and  a  proper,  impressive, 
and  intelligent  rendering  of  the  Service.  'An- 
thems' need  not  be  used — I  wish  it  would  become 
unfashionable  to  sing  them  in  our  churches — but 
the  good  effect  produced  by  the  hearty,  believing, 
prayerful  singing  of  the  grand  old  hymns  of  the 
Church  and  her  beautiful  liturgical  service,  will 
soon  be  felt  by  that  mission  that  pays  the  proper 
regard  to  its  musical  department." 


45^ 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Securing  Members. 

The  preliminary  work  having  been  done  and 
the  first  service  held,  the  missionary  is  now  face 
to  face  with  all  the  problems  of  building  up  the 
work.  These  problems  will  be  many  and  will 
vary  in  different  localities.  Mission  congrega- 
tions are  like  children — no  two  are  exactly  alike. 
The  missionary  must  be  able  to  adjust  himself  to 
the  individual  work  before  him. 

Securing  Members. 
The  prime  object  of  Home  Missions  is  to 
gather  into  the  Church  those  who  are  without 
church  connection.  This  object  the  missionary 
must  ever  keep  before  his  mind.  As  the  work  ad- 
vances other  things  will  seem  to  be  more  im- 
portant, but  they  are  not.  Every  step  taken  by 
the  missionary  must  be  taken  for  this  purpose. 
His  house  to  house  canvassing,  his  preaching,  his 
buying  lot  and  building  church  must  all  be  done 
with  this  idea  in  mind.  The  life  of  the  work 
will  depend  upon  his  ability  to  get  members  to 
unite  with  the  enterprise. 


SECURING   MEMBERS  223 

As  to  the  methods  of  securing  members  every 
missionary  will  have  his  own.  But  the  method 
that  counts  is  the  one  that  reaches  individuals. 
In  Home  Mission  work  the  personal  work  of  the 
missionary  and  his  workers  will  produce  better 
results  than  anything  else.  Hand-picked  fruit  is 
the  best  and  carefully  selected  members  are  the 
best.  It  is  not  such  an  easy  matter  to  get  people 
interested  in  a  mission  enterprise.  The  Macedo- 
nian cry,  "Come  over  and  help  us,"  is  not  as 
sincere  as  one  may  be  led  to  think.  People  are 
not  anxious  to  come  into  the  Church  and  assume 
the  responsibilities  of  church  membership.  The 
missionary  cannot  simply  start  a  work  and  then 
expect  the  people  to  flock  to  his  church.  Every 
member  that  he  gets  will  be  gotten  by  hard  work 
and  nothing  else.  Those  who  have  been  away 
from  the  church  for  a  long  time  do  not  feel  their 
need  of  the  church,  and  one  of  the  first  things 
the  missionary  will  have  to  do  will  be  to  convince 
them  of  their  individual  need  of  the  church.  Ex- 
perience shows  that  as  a  rule  people  are  willing 
to  have  church  privileges  for  their  children,  but 
so  far  as  they  are  concerned  they  do  not  need 
it.  To  convince  them  of  their  own  need  will  be 
the  task  of  the  missionary,  and  this  is  not  an 
easy  task. 

However  it  ofttimes  happens  that  a  man  may 
be  conscious  of  his  need  and  still  he  will  not  come 
into  the  church.  In  such  cases  the  missionary 
must  know  how  to  overcome  the  stubborn  will 


224  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

of  such  a  person.  We  have  found  that  in  such 
cases  the  missionary  must  use  the  power  of  num- 
bers. Let  him  take  with  him  two  or  three  men 
and  then  approach  his  man,  and  he  is  much  more 
apt  to  have  success  in  winning  him.  In  spiritual 
matters  as  in  physical  ones  two  or  three  men 
have  much  more  power  than  one.  When  the  mis- 
sionary alone  approaches  an  obstinate  one  the 
man  will  argue  and  debate  and  retard,  but  when 
two  or  three  equals  or  superiors  approach  him 
he  feels  defeated  from  the  outset.  He  feels  that 
his  will  is  not  strong  enough  to  stand  up  and 
oppose  them,  and  he  also  is  influenced  by  their 
personal  interest  in  his  welfare.  That  mission- 
ary is  wise  who  can  use  the  men  of  his  mission 
to  help  him  in  securing  members.  In  fact,  his 
mission  will  grow  just  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  effort  put  forth  by  the  laymen. 

In  securing  members  for  the  mission  the  mis- 
sionary is  often  tempted  to  put  forth  much  effort 
among  the  women  and  children  and  neglect  the 
men.  This  is  a  fatal  mistake.  This  comes  about 
because  it  is  easier  to  reach  the  women  and  chil- 
dren, and  they  are  more  easily  won  to  the  cause. 
The  women  are  in  the  home  and  are  found  during 
the  day,  while  the  men  are  away  at  work  and 
are  not  so  easily  approached.  However,  experi- 
ence has  proven  that  it  is  best  that  the  missionary 
put  forth  his  best  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  men. 
We  do  not  say  that  he  should  neglect  the  women, 
but  that  he  redouble  his  effort  to  reach  the  men. 


SECURING   MEMBERS  225 

When  once  he  has  won  the  wife  and  children  he 
does  not  know  whether  he  will  win  the  husband 
or  not,  but  let  him  win  the  husband,  and  in  the 
great  majority  of  cases  he  has  won  the  whole 
family.  Other  things  being  equal,  it  is  best  to 
devote  much  time  to  the  men.  They  will  be  hard- 
er to  win,  but  when  once  won  they  will  be  worth 
more  to  the  cause  than  the  women  and  children. 

Winning  Men. 

Winning  men  to  the  mission  is  so  important 
that  we  digress  for  a  fuller  discussion  of  the 
subject.  The  Home  Mission  work  of  the  Church 
is  the  greatest  task  before  this  generation,  and 
to  carry  it  on  we  must  have  more  men.  This 
work  of  the  Church  is  a  man's  work,  and  the 
question  is  how  to  get  men.  How  can  the  mis- 
sionary reach  the  men  and  get  them  interested 
so  that  they  will  spend  and  be  spent  in  the  service 
of  Christ? 

The  motive  for  reaching  men  is  worthy  of  con- 
sideration. The  incentive  to  win  men  for  the 
mission  and  for  Christ  dare  not  be  a  selfish  one. 
To  build  up  a  mission  into  a  strong  congregation 
is  not  a  pure  enough  motive.  To  win  fame  would 
be  a  very  selfish  reason.  To  give  the  mission 
standing  in  the  community  or  synod  would  be  to 
belittle  the  true  idea  of  the  Church.  The  mission- 
ary is  to  win  men  to  the  Church,  not  for  the 
sake  of  the  Church,  but  for  the  benefit  of  the  men. 
He  is  to  bring  them  into  the  Church  so  that  they 


226  LUTHEBAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

may  be  saved  and  so  they  in  turn  may  help  to 
save  others.  His  motive  is  not  earth-born  but 
heaven-born.  He  is  to  win  men  to  Christ  and 
His  Church  for  their  own  sake  and  for  the  sake 
of  the  Lord,  the  head  of  the  Church.  He  is  to 
win  men  because  they  need  to  be  won,  and  be- 
cause they  are  worth  winning.  He  is  to  gain 
men  for  the  Kingdom  because  this  is  his  com- 
mission from  the  Master.  The  love  of  souls  should 
burn  within  his  heart.  Like  John  Knox  he  should 
pray,  "Lord,  give  me  souls,  or  I  die."  Where 
such  earnest  consecration  exists  there  will  be  the 
proper  motive  inciting  him  to  great  activity  in 
winning  men  for  the  Master  and  for  his  mission 
congregation. 

The  Boy. 

With  the  pure  motive  prompting  him  to  action 
the  question  arises,  what  men  are  to  be  won? 
Where  shall  the  missionary  expend  his  elforts? 
Years  of  experience  strengthen  the  conviction 
that  the  man  he  must  reach  first  is  the  embryotic 
man,  the  man  in  the  making,  the  boy.  Statistics 
prove  that  the  number  of  men  who  unite  with 
the  Church  after  their  twentieth  year  is  very 
small.  Our  congregations  lack  men  because  we 
do  not  reach  them  at  the  time  they  are  becom- 
ing men.  What  the  boy  is  the  man  will  be.  The 
boy  problem  is  in  reality  the  man  problem.  The 
problem  of  winning  men  for  Christ  and  the 
Church  is  the  problem  of  winning  the  boy.    The 


SECURING    MEMBERS  227 

boys  in  the  Sunday-school  to-day  will  be  the  men 
in  the  Church  to-morrow.  The  missionary  can- 
not pay  too  much  attention  to  the  boys.  If  he 
can  win  the  boys  and  hold  them,  the  future  of 
the  mission  is  assured.  Every  effort  put  forth 
to  hold  the  boys  is  effort  well  spent. 

Young  Men  Getting  a  Start  in  Life. 

We  next  mention  the  young  men  getting  a  start 
in  life.  Our  cities  and  towns  are  full  of  such 
young  men,  and  they  make  the  very  best  material 
out  of  which  to  build  up  a  mission.  Many  of 
them  come  from  Christian  homes  but  have  drifted 
away  from  the  Church.  They  are  full  of  ambi- 
tion and  push,  and  a  mission  enterprise  appeals 
to  them  because  it  gives  them  an  opportunity  to 
work  where  their  work  will  count.  If  the  mision- 
ary  can  only  reach  them  they  will  become  his 
best  members  and  most  reliable  workers.  Their 
hearts  are  responsive,  their  ambitions  high,  and 
their  future  is  bright.  When  won  to  the  cause 
they  will  stay  by  it  when  others  become  discour- 
aged and  quit.  The  missionary  should  ever  be 
on  the  lookout  for  such  young  men. 

The  Young  Family. 

Another  phase  of  this  work  presents  itself  in 
the  young  family.  Many  young  men  drift  away 
from  the  Church,  but  when  they  are  married,  set- 
tle down,  and  realize  the  responsibilities  of  fa- 
therhood they  are    peculiarly    receptive    to    ap- 


228  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

proach.  Here  is  an  opportunity  we  have  over- 
looked. The  young  father  can  be  won.  He  is 
in  a  mood  to  be  won,  and  we  should  put  forth 
heroic  efforts  to  win  him. 

The  Indifferent. 

By  far  the  largest  number  of  men  outside  the 
Church  to-day  belong  to  that  class  called  indiffer- 
ent. This  class  the  missionary  must  reach.  The 
man  who  lacks  interest  is  the  man  he  must  win. 
There  are  many  causes  for  this  indifference,  but 
we  will  mention  only  a  few.  Probably  the  great- 
est cause  for  religous  indifference  in  our  day  is 
man's  engrossing  fidelity  to  other  things.  It  is 
not  so  much  his  opposition  to  the  Church  as  his 
absolute  absorption  in  other  things  that  keeps 
him  away.  As  a  rule  he  wants  his  children  in 
the  Sunday-school  and  his  wife  at  the  services, 
but  as  for  himself  he  does  not  have  the  time. 
Pursuit  of  pleasure  also  keeps  many  away.  The 
recent  rapid  development  of  cheap  forms  of 
amusement  is  noteworthy.  The  people  are  be- 
coming engrossed  with  pleasure,  and  in  propor- 
tion as  that  grows  fidelity  to  the  Church  dies. 
Some  men  are  overworked.  They  work  every 
day  in  the  week.  Some  have  only  one  Sunday  in 
a  month,  while  others  have  only  two  or  three  Sun- 
days in  a  whole  year.  This  is  a  sad  situation. 
But  sad  as  it  is  these  men  must  be  reached  with 
the  Gospel  message.  Their  lives  must  be  bright- 
ened.    They  must  be  won  for  the  Master.    This 


SECURING  MEMBERS  229 

great  class  of  indifferent  men  challenges  the 
Church.  Whatever  the  cause  of  their  indifference 
may  be  the  problem  is  to  reach  them.  Many  of 
them  can  be  won.  When  the  missionary  makes 
a  determined  effort  they  will  be  won. 

The  Doubter. 

There  is  a  large  class  of  doubters  which  must 
be  reached.  They  constitute  a  difficult  problem 
indeed.  There  are  two  classes  of  doubters,  honest 
and  dishonest.  There  is  little  hope  for  dishonest 
doubters.  Usually  such  men  are  seeking  to  cover 
their  sins  under  the  guise  of  doubt.  They  seem 
to  think  that  if  they  take  the  attitude  of  doubters 
they  will  not  have  to  answer  for  their  sins.  How- 
ever, there  are  honest  doubters.  Doubt  seems 
to  be  inherent  in  some  natures.  It  is  as  natural 
for  some  men  to  doubt  as  it  is  for  them  to  breathe. 

Almost  everything  in  religion  is  doubted  by 
somebody,  but  we  will  mention  a  few  of  those 
things  which  are  paramount  in  our  day.  The  au- 
thority of  the  Scripture  is  one  of  the  first  things 
called  into  question.  It  is  our  experience  that  it 
is  best  to  let  the  Scriptures  speak  for  themselves. 
We  need  not  try  to  defend  the  old  Book.  It  will 
defend  itself.  In  cases  of  this  kind  it  has  been 
our  practice  to  inquire  of  the  doubter  whether 
his  life  approximated  the  ideal  life  portrayed  in 
the  Bible.  In  almost  every  case  this  silenced  him. 
There  are  men  who  are  studying  the  "Mistakes 
of  Moses",  but  they  are  not  so  plentiful  as  for- 


230  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

merly.  The  trouble  with  these  men  is  that  they 
will  read  every  other  book  under  the  sun  except 
the  Bible  itself.  The  mistakes  of  Moses  right 
themselves  in  the  light  of  the  whole  Bible.  Some 
men  have  no  faith  in  their  own  day  and  genera- 
tion. They  will  point  to  every  conceivable  sin, 
and  as  a  grand  conclusion  affirm  that  everything 
is  corrupt.  As  a  rule  such  men  are  not  morally 
clean  and  must  be  dealt  with  on  that  basis.  But 
to  whatever  class  the  doubter  may  belong  he  can 
be  won.  We  can  win  men  who  doubt,  because  we 
have  the  power  of  God's  Word  to  help  and  sustain 
us. 

The  Pivotal  Man. 

While  all  classes  of  men  are  to  be  won,  still 
some  men  are  worth  more  to  the  cause  than  oth- 
ers. The  missionary  must,  by  all  means,  reach 
strong  pivotal  men.  In  every  community  there 
are  men  who  are  leaders,  men  who  are  looked 
up  to  and  respected.  These  are  the  men  he  must 
reach.  One  such  is  worth  more  to  the  cause  than 
a  dozen  others.  Such  a  man  will  lead  others.  A 
study  of  the  New  Testament  reveals  the  fact  that 
our  Lord  Jesus  never  strove  to  win  numbers.  He 
always  selected  an  individual  man  and  labored 
with  him  until  He  gained  him.  Some  of  the  great- 
est discourses  He  ever  delivered  were  spoken  to 
individuals,  like  Nicodemus  and  the  two  disciples 
on  the  way  to  Emmaus.  He  never  strove  to  gain 
the  multitude,  but  strong  pivotal  men  out  of  the 


SECURING   MEMBERS  231 

multitude.  In  choosing  His  disciples  He  did  not 
pick  up  the  first  man  He  met.  No,  He  chose 
strong  pivotal  men,  men  of  power,  men  of  charac- 
ter, men  who  were  capable  of  becoming  leaders. 
The  missionary  must  learn  from  His  example. 
While  not  neglecting  nor  refusing  the  others  the 
pivotal  man  must  be  reached  and  won.  Such  piv- 
otal men,  both  young  and  old,  there  are  in  every 
neighborhood.  These  he  must  seek  out  and  bring 
to  them  the  Gospel  message.  Such  men  are  need- 
ed in  the  Church  of  Christ.  When  he  wins  such 
men  he  accomplishes  much.  "Where  Saul  has 
slain  his  thousands  David  will  slay  his  tens  of 
thousands."    He  must  seek  the  Davids. 


Methods  of  Winning  Men. 

We  come  now  to  a  most  interesting  part  of  our 
discussion,  namely,  the  methods  employed  in 
reaching  and  winning  men.  The  means  at  our 
disposal  are  those  God  has  given  to  His  Church, 
the  Word  and  the  Sacraments.  These  together 
with  human  personality,  integrity,  tact,  and  com- 
mon sense  are  the  equipments  with  which  to 
catch  men.  But  to  be  successful  the  missionary 
must  know  how  to  use  this  equipment.  Once  Lu- 
ther almost  lost  his  life  handling  a  sword  with 
which  he  was  unfamiliar,  and  we  are  in  danger 
of  injuring  ourselves  and  harming  those  whom  we 
would  help  unless  we  know  how  to  successfully 
wield  our  weapon — the  sword  of  the  Spirit. 


232  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

Methods  of  Approach. 

Nothing  is  so  powerful  in  reaching  men  as  the 
Word  of  God.  But  the  fisher  of  men  must  know 
how  to  cast  the  Gospel  net.  It  is  our  growing 
conviction  that  we  do  not  study  that  Word  enough. 
General  study  of  the  Bible  is  not  sufficient.  We 
must  study  it  so  that  we  may  apply  it  to  the  in- 
dividual man.  This  has  been  our  weakness  in 
the  past.  But  when  once  we  study  our  Bible 
with  the  idea  of  applying  its  messages  to  the 
individual  man,  then  we  will  be  more  successful. 
The  Bible  was  written  for  all  ages  and  conditions 
of  people,  and  some  portions  will  appeal  to  men 
more  readily  than  others.  In  the  past  we  have 
appealed  to  the  law  too  much.  Men  are  best 
moved  by  example.  They  want  to  see  the  man 
who  has  "made  good."  Should  we  not  take  to 
men  these  examples  of  men  who  have  "made 
good",  and  move  them  thereby? 

All  method  presupposes  preparation,  and  if  we 
are  to  use  method  in  winning  men  there  must 
be  previous  preparation.  One  of  the  most  neces- 
sary steps  in  this  preparation  is  the  study  of  men. 
We  must  know  men  if  we  are  to  win  them.  If 
it  is  necessary  for  the  hunter  to  know  the  haunts 
and  habits  of  his  game,  surely  it  is  more  neces- 
sary for  him  who  would  win  men  to  Christ  to 
know  the  haunts  and  habits  of  men.  If  we  are 
to  reach  men  we  must  study  them.  Here  we  find 
the  weakest  point  in  the  training  of  the  modern 


SECURING  MEMBERS  233 

ministry.  We  have  not  been  taught  how  to  study 
men.  Our  seminaries  have  not  realized  the  im- 
portance of  this  study.  We  have  failed  and  failed 
often  because  we  have  not  studied  our  man.  It 
is  here  that  a  knowledge  of  psychology  comes  to 
the  rescue  of  the  one  seeking  to  win  men.  Some 
by  nature,  inclination,  and  experience  have  a  fair 
knowledge  of  men,  but  most  of  us  are  not  so  for- 
tunate. Coming  as  the  majority  of  us  do  from 
the  farms  and  smaller  villages  and  not  having 
been  thrown  into  contact  with  large  bodies  of 
men  in  our  younger  days,  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary that  we  study  men.  It  is  impossible  to  go 
into  details,  but  a  few  suggestions  may  not  come 
amiss.  There  are  certain  general  types  of  men. 
We  ought  to  be  able  to  classify  our  men.  We 
ought  to  know  enough  about  the  mental  make-up 
of  a  man  to  determine  to  what  general  psycho- 
logical type  he  belongs.  We  ought  to  understand 
something  about  temperaments. 

While  psychological  types  are  important,  still 
there  are  other  things  important  also.  In  our 
English  Lutheran  work  national  characteristics 
must  be  taken  into  consideration.  As  a  rule  we 
are  not  working  with  the  American,  but  with 
the  German,  the  Swede,  the  Norwegian,  or  the 
Dane.  Now  these  nationalities  all  have  their  own 
distinct  characteristics,  notions,  and  ways,  and 
they  must  be  dealt  with  accordingly.  The  Ger- 
man cannot  be  won  after  the  same  manner  as 
the  Swede,  nor  the  Norwegian  as  the  Dane.    The 

Lutheran  Home  MUsions.  16 


234  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

approach  and  work  must  be  different  with  each 
nationality.  It  is  important  to  know  this.  If  we 
are  to  win  men  we  need  to  make  a  careful  study 
of  national  characteristics. 

Conditions  under  which  men  labor  are  worthy 
of  our  study.  The  trade  at  which  a  man  labors, 
or  the  occupation  he  follows,  often  determines 
his  attitude  towards  the  Church.  It  is  a  well- 
known  fact  that  only  a  small  part  of  those  be- 
longing to  labor  unions  take  any  interest  in  the 
Church.  As  a  rule  the  men  who  come  to  our 
churches  are  from  the  middle  class.  They  are 
artisans,  clerks,  office  men,  and  farmers.  This 
fact  is  significant  and  needs  study.  We  must  solve 
the  problem  of  reaching  the  laboring  class.  The 
other  denominations  are  putting  forth  every  ef- 
fort, and  we  dare  not  lag  behind.  The  time  has 
come  when  we  must  awake  out  of  our  sleep,  open 
our  eyes  to  the  great  opportunities  around  us, 
study  the  problems,  and  then  go  forth  and  con- 
quer. Men  can  be  reached.  The  Lutheran  Church 
has  what  the  men  need.  We  must  learn  to  apply 
the  means  of  grace  more  intelligently. 

It  is  our  contention  that  if  men  are  to  be  won 
to  the  Kingdom  the  only  successful  way  to  do 
it  is  to  gather  them  one  at  a  time.  The  example 
of  our  Saviour  bears  us  out  in  this  assertion. 
If  this  is  true,  then  several  seemingly  small  things 
become  very  important.  Among  these  we  men- 
tion first  the  problem  of  approach.  How  are  we 
to  approach  the  individual  man  so  that  we  can 


SECUBINO  MEMBERS  235 

win  him?  Some  over-zealous  ones  have  contended 
that  we  should  approach  a  man  anywhere  at  any- 
time, but  as  Lutherans  we  have  long  ago  learned 
better.  The  manner,  place,  and  time  of  approach 
are  as  important  as  the  approach  itself.  There 
is  still  much  to  be  learned  in  regard  to  the  ap- 
proaching of  men.  Without  doubt  the  best  way 
of  approach  is  the  natural  way.  Strong  men  are 
seldom  won  by  high-handed  methods.  When  a 
man  comes  to  church  service  we  have  a  legitimate 
way  of  approach  either  at  the  church  or  at  his 
home.  He  has  opened  the  way  and  naturally 
expects  us  to  follow  him  up.  Here  is  where  the 
study  of  men  is  valuable.  First  impressions  are 
divine.  The  first  impression  on  the  man  almost 
decides  whether  we  will  win  or  not.  Business 
houses  are  wise  in  this  respect.  Great  care  is 
exercised  in  sending  out  salesmen  to  secure  a 
first  order.  The  best  man,  the  man  who  knows 
how  to  approach  a  prospective  customer  is  always 
selected  in  such  cases.  They  realize  that  all  the 
hoped  for  future  orders  depend  upon  that  first 
approach.  After  the  first  order  is  taken  almost 
any  salesman  can  get  the  future  orders.  If  this 
is  true  in  business,  how  much  more  true  is  it 
not  in  the  King's  business.  Plan  a  first  approach 
as  carefully  as  a  general  would  plan  a  charge  on 
the  enemy.  Study  the  man  beforehand.  Learn 
all  that  can  be  learned  about  him,  "his  nature, 
his  tastes,  his  temperament,  his  training,  his  sur- 
rounding, his  business,  his  employment,  his  incli- 


236  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

nation,  his  attitude,  and  his  companions."  This 
will  take  time,  but  we  must  not  be  in  too  big  a 
hurry.  A  careful  study  and  a  well  planned  ap- 
proach we  have  found  to  be  the  secret  of  getting 
men  into  the  church. 

Having  met  the  man  what  is  to  be  said?  Say 
as  little  as  possible.  Direct  the  conversation,  and 
generally  the  man  will  do  the  talking  himself. 
Let  him  talk.  The  best  way  to  convince  a  large 
majority  of  men  of  the  foolishness  of  their  way 
is  to  keep  still  and  let  them  talk.  They  will  soon 
betray  themselves.  Whatever  the  man  may  say, 
keep  calm.  Do  not  let  him  arouse  your  temper. 
You  have  sought  the  interview  and  you  must  en- 
dure the  consequences.  Do  not  worry  if  you  do 
not  make  much  progress  the  first  time.  You 
have  broken  the  ice.  You  have  laid  a  foundation. 
Build  up  steadily  later  on.  Apply  the  Word  of 
God  at  every  step  and  let  it  do  its  work.  It  is 
the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  convert  the  man. 
Your  work  is  to  convey  the  Gospel  message. 

Time  of  Approach. 

The  time  of  approach  is  important.  Wise  men 
plan  their  time.  You  cannot  catch  fish  when  the 
wind  is  blowing  in  the  wrong  direction,  neither 
can  you  catch  men  unless  you  have  favorable 
conditions.  Never  approach  a  man  just  before 
his  dinner  or  during  his  busiest  time.  A  time 
of  business  depression,  a  time  of  accident,  a  time 
of  general  sorrow,  or  a  time  when  there  is  a 


SECURING  MEMBERS  237 

death  in  the  family  may  be  your  opportunity. 
When  these  opportunities  come  do  not  let  them 
pass  by  unused. 

A  few  general  suggestions  may  be  of  value. 
Never  talk  to  a  man  about  his  personal  salvation 
in  the  presence  of  another  man.  Never  hurry. 
Take  plenty  of  time.  In  our  mission  work  we 
like  to  get  results  at  once,  but  you  cannot  hurry 
a  man  in  his  religious  actions.  If  it  takes  a 
year  to  win  a  man,  it  is  a  year  well  spent.  It 
has  taken  the  writer  two  years  to  win  some  men, 
and  in  one  case  he  kept  on  for  four  years,  but 
when  he  won  his  man  he  had  a  good  one.  Deep 
water  runs  quietly.  Deep,  strong  natures  do  not 
move  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment.  Always  be 
frank.  Deal  with  your  man  absolutely  on  the 
square.  Try  to  move  him  by  emotion  and  you 
fail.  Let  the  Word  do  its  silent  work  in  his  heart. 
Always  be  careful  how  you  apply  that  Word.  You 
cannot  win  a  man  by  bombarding  him  with  Scrip- 
ture passages.  Many  books  on  this  subject  give 
a  number  of  specific  cases  and  then  a  list  of 
Scripture  passages  to  be  used  in  each  case.  This 
was  diagnosing  the  case  and  then  applying  the 
remedy  alike  to  all  with  the  result  that  some 
were  healed  and  many  killed  outright.  This  meth- 
od is  being  abandoned  even  by  those  most  radi- 
cal on  this  point.  First  convey  the  thought  and 
then  follow  it  up  with  a  Scripture  quotation,  and 
you  will  have  better  success. 

Conversation  plays  an  important  part  in  the 


238  LUTHEEAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

winning  of  individual  men.  There  is  something 
of  the  man  himself  given  out  in  conversation 
v^^hich  cannot  be  imparted  in  any  other  way.  A 
few  suggestions  are  pertinent.  Be  careful  not  to 
make  an  exhibition  of  your  own  life.  Your  life's 
story  may  be  intensely  interesting,  but  it  will 
not  sound  good  to  the  ear  of  the  man  whom  you 
have  not  won. 

As  a  general  rule  it  is  a  mistake  to  use  much 
argument.  Very  few  men  are  won  by  it.  Gen- 
erally argument  is  a  cloak  for  something  else. 
The  man  who  knows  least  about  the  Bible  and 
cares  least  about  his  spiritual  welfare  is  the  man 
who  invariably  has  an  argument.  We  have  been 
told  that  it  is  a  common  thing  for  the  patrons 
of  the  saloon  to  argue  about  religion.  Sincerity, 
sympathy,  and  personality  count  much  more  than 
argument.  If  you  are  in  earnest  your  speech  will 
reveal  it.  In  a  ten  years'  ministry  we  have  had 
the  experience  of  convincing  one  man  by  argu- 
ment and  only  one. 

Correspondence. 

A  valuable  means  of  reaching  men  is  corres- 
pondence. In  the  business  world  the  postage 
stamp  has  become  a  mighty  power.  In  our  efforts 
to  reach  men  we  must  learn  to  use  it.  Aside  from 
a  direct  personal  appeal  this  is  the  next  best 
thing.  There  is  something  individual  and  per- 
sonal in  a  letter  which  not  even  an  address  or 
sermon  contains.     Here  is  an  undeveloped  field. 


SECURING  MEMBERS  239 

The  popularity  of  the  postal  card  shows  the  pow- 
er that  lies  in  this  method.  Why  not  apply  it 
in  our  work  of  winning  men  ?  Personally  we  have 
gotten  some  valuable  results  from  letters.  At 
the  morning  service  one  Sunday  we  had  two  fam- 
ilies present,  a  direct  result  of  writing  letters  to 
those  fathers.  A  letter  written  to  a  man  will 
bear  fruit  long  afterwards.  We  have  among  our 
correspondence  letters  which  we  prize  very  highly 
which  were  written  in  response  to  others  we  had 
sent  out  relative  to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  men. 
A  tactful  and  earnest  letter  may  be  laid  aside 
for  a  time,  but  the  memory  of  it  will  linger  and 
it  will  be  hunted  and  read  again. 

Having  won  the  man  the  next  step  is  to  get 
him  into  the  mission.  He  must  signify  his  wil- 
lingness and  must  actually  join  the  congrega- 
tion. Here  custom  varies.  We  have  found  it 
very  beneficial  to  use  application  blanks.  Experi- 
ence has  taught  us  that  it  is  wise  to  have  a  man 
sign  a  formal  application  for  membership.  A 
man  considers  a  written  signature  more  sacred 
and  more  binding  than  a  mere  promise. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
Securing  Lot  and  Building. 

A  Mission  should  not  Stay  in  Temporary  Quarters 
any  Longer  than  Necessary. 

A  rented  store  room  or  a  portable  chapel  may 
do  very  well  for  a  beginning,  but  no  mission  ought 
to  stay  long  in  such  quarters.  The  surroundings 
are  not  congenial  to  worship  and  are  in  no  way 
inspiring.  As  long  as  a  mission  is  in  such  quar- 
ters the  members  feel  uncertain  and  are  not  quite 
sure  what  the  final  outcome  will  be.  In  such  sur- 
roundings it  is  almost  impossible  to  draw  stran- 
gers, and  the  life  of  the  mission  depends  upon 
getting  strangers  interested  in  the  work.  Those 
who  do  come  while  it  is  housed  thus  usually  do  not 
add  great  strength  to  the  work.  A  universal  ex- 
perience in  mission  work  is  that  with  a  permanent 
church  building  comes  a  better  class  of  people. 

The  Purchase  of  a  Lot  Tends  to  Give  Permanency 
to  the  Work. 
The  purchase  of  a  lot  gives  a  mission  congre- 
gation   the    consciousness  of  permanency.     The 


SECURING  LOT  AND  BUILDING  241 

people  know  where  the  future  church  building 
is  to  be  located,  and  the  anticipation  of  that  event 
encourages  and  inspires  them.  In  imagination 
they  see  the  new  structure  rising,  and  this  gives 
a  wonderful  impetus  to  the  work. 

The  possession  of  a  lot  not  only  inspires  the 
members  of  the  mission,  but  it  tends  to  give  the 
impression  to  the  community  that  the  mission  is 
now  taking  a  permanent  place  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  people  of  the  community,  from  that 
time  on,  will  watch  and  inquire  after  the  progress 
of  the  mission.  Knowing  that  there  is  to  be  a 
new  church  their  curiosity  is  aroused,  and  this 
curiosity  often  leads  to  interest  in  the  work.  The 
missionary  pastor  finds  it  easier  to  secure  mem- 
bers after  he  can  tell  them  where  the  church 
building  is  to  be  erected. 

The  Purchase  of  a  Lot  Arouses  Hope  in  the 
People. 

When  the  children  of  Israel  were  in  the  wil- 
derness without  a  permanent  place  of  abode  they 
were  rather  hopeless  and  discouraged.  That  is 
the  feeling  of  a  mission  as  long  as  it  has  nothing 
permanent.  The  purchase  of  a  lot  immediately 
arouses  hope  in  the  breast  of  even  the  most  criti- 
cal and  forlorn  member.  The  very  fact  that  the 
mission  now  has  become  possessed  of  a  piece  of 
the  soil  arouses  hope  and  kindles  inspiration. 
While  church  work  is  spiritual  in  its  nature,  yet, 
it  must  be  attached  to  the  material  of  the  world 


242  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

before  it  can  inspire  materialistic  men  and  wo- 
men. Theorize  about  this  as  much  as  we  will 
this  is  the  case,  and  in  our  Home  Mission  work 
we  have  to  deal  with  facts  as  well  as  with  theo- 
ries. 

The  Purchase  of  a  Lot  Gives  the  Mission  some 
Definite  Work. 

While  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  the  ex- 
tension of  the  Kingdom  of  God  is  the  aim  of  every 
mission  work,  still  the  people  like  to  have  some 
definite  material  work  before  them.  One  might 
think  that  a  "lot  fund"  or  "church  fund"  would 
serve  the  purpose,  but  experience  teaches  that 
they  do  not.  In  the  minds  of  the  people  there  is 
a  vast  difference  between  a  "lot  fund"  and  a  real 
lot.  The  real  lot  will  serve  to  develop  interest 
and  stimulate  activity  such  as  a  mere  fund  will 
never  do.  After  all,  a  fund  is  something  imagin- 
ary, while  a  lot  is  real  earth,  and  in  such  work 
people  like  to  see  the  reality  rather  than  hear 
about  the  possibility. 

The  Location  of  the  Lot. 
Great  care  and  discriminating  judgment  must 
be  exercised  selecting  the  ground  upon  which  the 
future  church  is  to  stand.  In  a  large  measure 
the  future  success  of  the  work  depends  upon  the 
proper  location.  A  well  located  church  building 
means  success;  a  poor  location  means  hardships, 
delays,  and  final  failure.     In  locating  the  future 


SECURING   LOT   AND   BTTILDINQ  243 

church  the  judgment  of  the  missionary  pastor  and 
members  of  the  mission  is  hardly  adequate.  The 
higher  mission  authorities  ought  to  be  called  in 
to  consider  and  advise.  Personal  prejudices  and 
local  attachments  often  pervert  the  vision  of 
those  on  the  field,  while  the  mission  authorities 
who  are  experienced  can  see  the  relation  of  the 
location  to  the  surrounding  community  much  bet- 
ter than  those  on  the  field. 

The  future  church  must  be  centrally  located  in 
the  territory  which  it  is  to  serve.  People  may 
go  a  long  way  to  work,  they  may  endure  all  kinds 
of  inconveniences  in  getting  to  and  from  the 
place  where  they  earn  their  daily  bread,  but  they 
will  not  endure  inconveniences  in  getting  to  and 
from  church.  Members  of  an  old  established 
church  may  go  a  long  way  to  church  for  the  sake 
of  attachment  and  sentiment,  but  in  a  mission 
both  these  elements  are  lacking.  The  work  is 
too  new  to  have  created  much  sentiment,  and 
there  has  been  no  building  with  its  sacred  mem- 
ories to  attract  the  members.  Everything  else 
considered,  a  central  location  is  of  prime  import- 
ance. 

The  future  church  must  be  located  in  reference 
to  the  membership.  The  church  is  to  be  built  as 
a  place  of  worship  for  the  members  and  they 
must  be  taken  into  consideration.  They  are  to 
come  to  the  church  and  they  are  to  support  the 
church  and  they  deserve  first  consideration  when 
it  comes  to  choosing  a  location.     Of  course  the 


244  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

future  members  must  be  considered  also,  but  a 
location  that  is  not  satisfactory  to  the  majority 
of  the  mission  congregation  is  a  wrong  location. 
It  will  nearly  always  be  impossible  t3  have  the 
unanimous  consent  as  to  place,  for  people  differ 
in  preference  and  judgment,  but  to  locate  a 
church  against  the  good  will  and  better  judg- 
ment of  the  larger  number  of  the  members  of 
the  mission  is  to  mislocate  it.  Mislocating  mis- 
sion churches  has  been  one  of  the  prime  causes 
of  failure  in  our  work  in  the  past.  The  conveni- 
ence and  good  will  of  the  membership  must  be 
taken  into  consideration  when  a  definite  location 
for  the  future  church  is  to  be  chosen. 

The  location  of  the  church  must  be  made  in 
reference  to  the  other  churches  in  the  commun- 
ity. All  things  considered  it  is  not  advisable  to 
locate  a  mission  church  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  another  church.  In  the  first  place  the  other 
Churches  may  be  serving  that  neighborhood,  and 
in  the  second  place  it  has  a  discouraging  effect 
on  the  members  of  the  mission  congregation.  To 
pass  a  large  imposing  church  and  go  into  a  mod- 
est chapel  or  rented  quarters  is  not  conducive  to 
enthusiasm.  It  often  happens  that  members  of 
a  mission  church  become  discouraged  from  no 
other  cause  than  that  of  constantly  comparing 
their  modest  church  with  the  imposing  structure 
of  some  other  church  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
borhood. A  respectable  distance  from  other 
churches  in  the  neighborhood  is  always  advis- 


SECURING  LOT  AND  BUILDING  245 

able.  It  avoids  discouragement  such  as  has 
been  mentioned  and  it  has  the  advantage  of  draw- 
ing into  the  Sunday-school  and  church  services 
such  as  may  consider  the  other  churches  too 
far  away.  In  smaller  cities  as  well  as  in  larger 
ones  the  various  churches  are  nearly  always 
grouped  in  certain  localities.  As  a  general  rule 
it  is  well  to  keep  at  some  distance  from  such 
groups. 

The  church  must  be  located  in  reference  to 
the  facilities  of  travel.  Elevated  railroads,  street- 
cars, and  boulevards  are  a  factor  in  locating  a 
church.  A  church  ought  to  be  located  so  as  to 
be  within  easy  reach  of  lines  of  travel.  Some 
of  the  best  people  of  the  new  congregation  may 
in  a  very  short  time  live  far  from  their  present 
church  home.  If  they  have  been  devoted  workers 
in  the  mission  and  have  become  attached  to  it, 
they  will,  if  they  can  reach  it  by  car,  not  for- 
sake but  remain  with  it.  However,  not  only  those 
who  might  move  away,  but  those  who  reside  at 
some  distance  might  affiliate  themselves  with  the 
mission  if  they  can  reach  it  easily.  There  are 
nearly  always  some  who  will  take  an  interest 
in  the  work  from  a  distance. 

The  church  must  be  located  in  reference  to 
factories,  railways,  etc.  It  is  never  advisable  to 
locate  a  church  in  near  proximity  to  a  railway. 
The  noise  and  dirt  are  detrimental  to  the  worship 
of  the  congregation.  In  some  states  laws  regu- 
late the  moving  of  Sunday  trains,  but  it  is  impos- 


246  LUTHEBAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

sible  to  tell  how  long  such  laws  may  be  in  force. 
Such  laws  are  easily  changed,  but  a  church  is 
not  easily  moved.  A  church  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  factories  is  equally  handicapped.  It 
is  impossible  to  tell  how  soon  the  factory  may 
run  on  Sunday,  and  the  noise  and  distraction 
would  prove  detrimental  to  the  services. 

If  possible,  the  church  building  should  be  on 
a  corner.  In  the  first  place  it  gives  opportunity 
for  a  more  imposing  structure,  and  then  it  gives 
four  ways  of  access  to  the  church.  It  is  desir- 
able to  have  people  come  from  all  directions  to 
the  church.  The  approach  to  the  church  is  an 
important  factor  and  a  corner  lot  nearly  always 
gives  a  good  approach. 

A  corner  lessens  the  possibility  of  undesirable 
buildings  encroaching  upon  the  church.  It  is  not 
always  possible  to  keep  undesirable  buildings 
away.  On  that  account  it  is  well  to  locate  the 
church  where  the  surrounding  property  is  occu- 
pied or  where  the  nature  of  the  future  buildings 
is  pretty  well  assured. 

The  church  should  be  located  in  a  public  place. 
While  quietness  is  desirable,  quietness  at  the  ex- 
pense of  publicity  is  not  advisable.  The  church 
ought  to  be  placed  where  the  people  frequently 
pass  it.  It  ought  to  be  located  where  the  pub- 
lic can  see  it.  To  place  the  church  on  some 
obscure  street  where  the  public  never  sees  it 
and  never  becomes  conscious  of  its  existence,  is 
a  mistake.    Better  some  noise  with  publicity  than 


SECURING  LOT  AND  BUILDING  247 

less  noise  without  publicity.  A  mission  church 
must  make  itself  known  to  the  public  and  a  prop- 
er location  is  a  wonderful  help  in  this  matter. 

The  price  of  the  lot  should  be  a  secondary  con- 
sideration. While  the  price  will  always  be  a 
determining  factor,  still  it  should  not  be  the  deter- 
mining factor.  A  cheap  lot  may,  in  the  end,  be 
the  dearest,  and  an  expensive  lot  may  be,  in  the 
end,  the  cheapest.  The  growth  of  the  future 
church  should  not  be  hazarded  for  a  few  hundred 
or  even  few  thousand  dollars.  Other  things  being 
favorable  it  is  best  to  purchase  the  most  desir- 
able lot,  even  if  it  means  a  larger  outlay  and  a 
longer  wait  for  the  coveted  building. 

Along  with  the  price,  naturally,  will  go  the 
size  of  the  lot.  The  lot  should  be  large  enough 
to  meet  the  future  needs  of  the  congregation. 
To  hamper  the  future  development  of  the  church 
with  too  small  a  lot  is  a  mistake.  Naturally  the 
other  extreme  must  also  be  avoided.  To  buy 
with  the  expectation  of  a  phenomenal  growth 
and  retard  the  work  with  a  large  debt  on  a  lot 
is  often  suicidal.  Mission  congregations  are  apt 
to  fall  into  one  of  these  twc  extremes  and  must 
be  exceedingly  careful  when  selecting  a  location 
for  the  future  church. 

An  unfavorable  location  may  be  too  dear  even 
as  a  gift.  To  build  i  church  in  a  community  simp- 
ly because  someone  may  donate  a  lot  may  be  a 
sad  mistake.  The  church  must  be  located  where 
the  people  are,  or  it  is  mislocated.     It  is  a  mis- 


248  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

take  to  build  a  church  in  a  locality  and  expect  to 
draw  the  people  to  it  from  a  far  distance.  As  a 
general  rule  people  do  not  care  to  travel  more 
than  thirty  minutes  to  church,  and  often  it  is 
difficult  to  get  them  to  travel  that  long.  This 
is  particularly  true  in  the  earlier  stages  of  mis- 
sion work.  After  the  mission  congregation  has 
some  prestige,  then  people  will  come  farther,  but 
not  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  work.  This  being 
the  case  it  often  is  a  mistake  to  accept  the  offer 
of  a  free  lot  when  the  lot  is  not  in  the  proper 
location. 

The  location  of  a  church  being  so  important, 
the  mission  should  not  be  in  too  big  a  hurry  in 
buying  a  lot.  Conditions  must  be  well  studied. 
The  present  location  of  the  prospective  members, 
the  future  development  of  that  neighborhood  and 
possible  future  barriers  that  may  come  into  the 
community  must  all  be  taken  into  consideration. 
The  argument  that  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  move 
a  mission  congregation  is  not  a  valid  one.  Those 
who  have  had  the  experience  know  that  it  is 
exceedingly  difficult  to  move  a  church  after  it 
has  been  established  in  a  certain  location.  It  is 
easier  to  begin  a  new  mission  than  to  move  one 
that  has  already  built  a  church,  however  humble 
the  church  building  may  be. 

The  Building. 

Taking  it  for  granted  that  the  proper  location 
has  been  secured  the  next  step  is  to  get  the  church 


SECURING   LOT   AND  BUILDING  249 

building  itself.  Here  the  mission  has  its  first 
hard  financial  struggle.  But  finance  or  no  finance 
the  mission  must  have  a  church  home.  To  re- 
main in  temporary  quarters  retards  the  work. 
Christian  people  have  learned  to  worship  God  be- 
tween the  four  walls  of  a  church.  If  the  mission 
is  to  abide  it  must  be  properly  housed.  Christi- 
anity itself  cannot  abide  unless  properly  housed. 
We  quote  Rev.  Clarence  E.  Gardner:  "If  Christi- 
anity is  to  abide  the  test  of  time  and  to  endure 
the  onslaught  of  unbelief  and  decay  it  must  be 
properly  housed.  Houses  of  worship  must  be 
found  in  every  city,  town,  and  hamlet.  Places 
that  can  be  dignified  as  temples  and  cathedrals 
must  be  found  alongside  of  the  busy  marts  of 
trade.  Stone  and  brick  must  alike  be  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  God  as  well  as  set  apart  for 
business  and  secular  pursuits.  Stability,  perma- 
nency, respectability,  and  confidence  in  the  power 
of  the  religion  which  we  profess  demand  that 
there  shall  be,  not  only  houses  for  worship,  strong 
and  tall,  but  churchly  and  stately,  in  which  God 
may  be  worshiped  seven  days  out  of  the  week, 
and  every  week  in  all  the  years  as  they  come 
and  go."  If  this  is  true  of  Christianity  itself, 
how  much  more  is  it  true  of  the  mission  congre- 
gation. The  house  of  God  is  an  absolute  neces- 
sity to  the  development  of  the  Home  Mission 
congregation. 

The  church  building  is  necessary  for  the  proper 
worship  of  the  congregation.     The  functions  of 

Lutheran  Home   Missions.  17 


250  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

the  church  building  are  first  of  all  worship,  and 
the  mission  congregation  needs  the  building  for 
that  purpose.  Store  rooms  and  halls  are  poor 
places  for  worship.  The  surroundings  are  not 
conducive  to  worship.  The  very  walls  of  the 
church  building  tend  to  produce  a  worshipful  at- 
mosphere. Mr.  Ralph  Adams  Cram  writes  of 
the  church  building  thus:  "First  of  all,  a  church 
is  a  house  of  God;  a  place  of  His  earthly  habita- 
tion, wrought  in  the  fashion  of  heavenly  things, 
a  visible  type  of  heaven  itself."  The  second  pur- 
pose is  "the  producing  of  a  place  of  worship  where 
may  be  solemnized  the  sublime  mysteries  of  the 
Catholic  faith;  a  temple  reared  about  the  altar 
and  subordniate  to  it,  leading  up  to  it,  as  the 
center  of  honor,  growing  richer  and  more  splendid 
as  it  approaches  the  sanctuary."  The  third  rule 
in  building  it  ,  "the  creation  of  spiritual  emotions 
through  the  ministry  of  all  possible  beauty  of 
environment,  the  using  of  art  to  lift  men's  minds 
from  secular  things  to  spiritual,  that  their  souls 
may  be  brought  into  harmony  with  God."  The 
fourth  aspect  of  church  form  is,  "the  arrangement 
of  a  church  building  where  a  congregation  may 
conveniently  listen  to  the  instruction  of  spiritual 
leaders."  All  these  helps  the  mission  congrega- 
tion needs  badly,  but  until  it  has  its  own  church 
building  it  must  go  without  them.  To  hold  a 
service  in  a  hall  where  the  floors  are  waxed  for 
dancing,  or  to  worship  in  a  store  room  with  a 
piano  thumping  overhead,  is  anything  but  inspir- 


SECURING   LOT   AND   BUILDING  251 

ing.  As  places  for  beginning  these  may  do,  but 
for  genuine  worship  the  church  building  is  abso- 
lutely indispensable. 

The  church  building  is  necessary  to  inspire 
confidence.  "Our  God  tabernacles  among  men 
even  as  of  old.  Without  a  house  in  which  to  wor- 
ship, mankind  would  De  very  much  as  the  children 
of  Israel  when  Moses  tarried  on  the  mount  of 
Sinai.  Without  a  permanent  place  of  worship, 
and  that  place  substantial,  and,  to  a  degree,  com- 
fortable in  its  appointments,  no  degree  of  con- 
fidence could  be  inspired  among  the  people  in 
God  who  is  to  be  worshiped,  nor  in  the  enterprise 
as  a  Christian  institution  in  the  community.  Halls 
and  vacant  store  rooms  may  suffice  for  a  time 
as  places  of  worship.  But  in  every  instance  that 
time  is  limited,  and  unless  there  is  a  disposition 
to  secure  a  permanent  and  suitable  home,  as  David 
desired  for  the  Lord,  the  enterprise  is  doomed 
and  the  cause  of  our  Lord  greatly  harmed." — 
Rev.  Clarence  E.  Gardner. 

Eperience  shows  that  there  is  nothing  that  will 
inspire  confidence  in  the  work  of  Home  Missions 
as  a  church  building.  The  accessions  after  the 
erection  of  a  church  building  are  always  large, 
showing  that  the  building  has  begotten  confidence 
among  the  people  and  they  now  feel  assured  that 
thp  work  is  no  longer  a  venture,  but  an  assured 
fact. 

Another  advantage  of  having  a  church  building 
is  that  it  points  outsiders  to  God.    The  building 


252  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

itself  stands  as  an  object  lesson  to  men,  pointing 
them  to  God.  "It  stands  as  a  silent  influence,  the 
worth  and  permanency  of  the  religion  taught 
therein.  The  psalmist  has  said,  'Walk  about  Zion, 
and  go  round  about  her;  tell  the  towers  thereof. 
Mark  ye  well  her  bulwarks,  consider  her  palaces ; 
that  ye  may  tell  it  to  the  generations  following.' 
Thus  speaks  every  church.  It  tells  the  passer-by 
of  Him  who  died  to  save;  it  speaks  of  a  love 
80  pure  and  a  mercy  so  deep  that  both  saint  and 
sinner  who  pass  its  doors  acknowledge  a  debt  of 
gratitude  to  its  potent  influence." 

The  church  building  tells  of  the  faith  of  the 
people  who  worship  therein.  The  presence  of  a 
Lutheran  church  in  a  community  tells  the  passer- 
by that  there  are  those  residing  in  that  community 
who  hold  to  the  doctrine  of  God's  Word  as  taught 
by  the  great  reformer.  The  magnitude  of  the 
building  is  apt  to  give  the  impression  of  the 
strength  of  the  congregation.  A  small  chapel  is 
a  living  testimony  to  the  weakness  of  the  congre- 
gation, while  a  large,  imposing  building  tells  the 
story  of  a  strong,  influential  congregation.  How- 
ever, the  mission  congregation  needs  the  silent 
testimony  of  a  church  building  telling  all  that 
here  the  Lutheran  faith  is  taught  and  that  God  is 
worshiped  according  to  the  tenets  of  Lutheran 
belief. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
Building  up  the  Work. 

Financing  the  Mission. 

Having  organized  a  mission  congregation,  pur- 
chased a  lot,  and  erected  a  church  building,  the 
missionary  pastor  is  now  face  to  face  with  the 
problem  of  financing  the  mission.  In  buying  the 
lot  and  erecting  the  church  those  interested  in  the 
work  have  contributed  all  they  feel  that  they  can. 
But  the  work  must  go  forward,  and  that  means 
expense.  The  up-keep  of  the  church,  the  pastor's 
salary,  and  interest  must  be  met.  The  mission 
now  faces  the  hardest  time  in  its  existence.  Obli- 
gations taken  during  the  erection  of  the  building 
must  be  met.  Notes  come  due  and  must  be  paid. 
The  members  of  the  mission  feel  that  they  have 
strained  every  nerve,  and  yet  the  pressing  debts 
must  be  paid.  From  a  financial  point  of  view  the 
first  five  years  after  the  erection  of  the  church 
building  are  the  hardest  years  in  the  life  of  the 
mission.  It  is  now  that  the  missionary  pastor 
must  show  his  ability  as  a  financeer.    Ways  and 


254  LUTHERAN    HOME  MISSIONS 

means  for  meeting  all  obligations  must  be  devised, 
and  usually  it  falls  upon  him  to  devise  them.  It 
is  in  this  period  of  the  life  of  a  mission  that  he 
is  tempted  to  let  the  people  use  all  kinds  of  un- 
scriptural  methods  in  raising  money  because 
money  is  needed  and  must  be  had. 

In  order  to  prosper  the  mission  must  be  financed 
on  a  business  basis.  There  is  no  way  that  sur- 
passes direct  giving.  Experience  shows  that  the 
envelope  system  is  the  best  method.  Every  mem- 
ber of  the  congregation  and  every  member  of  the 
Sunday-school  should  give  regularly.  Ofttimes 
many  who  have  not  identified  themselves  with  the 
congregation  can  be  induced  to  contribute  regular- 
ly to  its  support  when  approached  in  the  right 
way.  Many  of  our  older  congregations  would  be 
surprised  to  learn  how  everybody  in  a  mission 
congregation  helps.  Not  only  do  the  men  and 
women,  but  even  the  children  contribute  every 
Sunday.  If  they  did  not  do  this  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  carry  on  the  work. 

Another  factor  in  financing  a  mission  congre- 
gation is  the  Women's  Society  or  Ladies'  Aid 
Society.  Nearly  every  mission  congregation  we 
know  anything  about  owes  much  to  its  women's 
society.  Usually  this  society  is  the  mainstay  of 
the  mission  congregation.  Often  it  assumes  the 
interest  on  the  debt,  or  some  note  which  must  be 
paid,  or  secures  furniture  for  the  church,  etc. 
Most  of  the  mission  congregations  could  not  have 
passed  through  the  trying  years  following  the 


BUILDING  UP  THE  WORK  255 

erection  of  their  church  building  had  it  not  been 
for  the  assistance  of  such  a  society. 

Of  course  the  mission  congregation  can  always 
appeal  to  the  general  public  and  get  some  help. 
It  can  do  this  when  buying  the  lot  and  building 
the  church,  but  after  that  it  does  not  have  a  very 
strong  appeal  and  cannot  expect  much  help  from 
the  community.  After  the  public  has  helped  two 
or  three  times  it  will  not  listen  to  further  appeals 
with  much  interest. 

In  the  final  analysis  the  membership  of  the  mis- 
sion must  finance  the  enterprise.  It  is  their 
church.  It  is  for  their  benefit,  and  why  should 
they  not  support  it?  We  have  always  felt  that 
we  have  no  more  right  to  ask  the  public  to  support 
our  church  than  we  have  to  ask  it  to  support  our 
family.  The  membership  of  the  mission  must 
be  made  to  understand  that  they  must  assume  the 
financial  obligations  of  the  mission  and  that  they 
must  meet  those  obligations. 

Neglect  in  meeting  financial  obligations  has 
been  a  hindrance  to  the  growth  of  many  a  mission 
congregation.  The  obligations  of  a  church  are 
just  as  binding  as  the  obligations  of  a  business 
institution,  and  they  should  be  met  just  as  prompt- 
ly. One  of  the  first  things  a  mission  congrega- 
tion should  seek  to  do  is  to  establish  a  credit,  and 
when  once  established  it  should  meet  its  obliga- 
tions and  keep  that  credit.  A  mission  congrega- 
tion cannot  afford  to  lose  its  credit.  It  needs 
credit  and  borrowing  power  just  as  much  as  any 


256  LUTHEBA.N   HOME  MISSIONS 

business  man,  and  it  should  endeavor  to  keep  it 
just  as  the  business  man  does.  It  is  a  fatal  mis- 
take for  a  mission  congregation  to  lose  its  credit. 

Meeting  the  Discouragements. 

Every  mission  congregation  is  sorely  beset  with 
discouragements.  The  path  to  success  is  not 
strewn  with  roses.  Discouragements  of  all  kinds 
will  arise.  One  of  the  first  will  be  that  of  finance. 
It  will  be  so  difficult  to  meet  pressing  obligations 
that  the  members  will  become  discouraged  and 
disheartened  and  often  lose  interest. 

Another  discouragement  will  come  from  the 
failure  of  promising  persons  who  unite  with  the 
church  to  develop  into  active  workers  and  helpers. 
People  who  unite  with  the  congregation  and  give 
promise  of  becoming  good  supporters  will  prove 
to  be  dismal  failures.  Occurrences  of  this  kind 
are  very  depressing  upon  the  pastor  as  well  as 
upon  the  members.  But  they  must  be  expected. 
There  are  always  people  who  are  carried  away 
with  the  enthusiasm  of  first  beginnings,  but  with 
the  passing  of  this  enthusiasm  they  disappear 
also.  They  do  not  have  the  faith  and  courage 
necessary  to  continue  in  the  day  of  sore  trials. 

Another  discouragement  that  a  mission  must 
meet  is  the  disappointment  in  the  growth  of  mem- 
bership. It  matters  not  how  fortunately  a  mis- 
sion congregation  is  located,  its  membership  never 
In.Teases  as  rapidly  as  was  anticipated.  As  a 
general  rule  people  do  not  take  to  the  enterprise 


BUILDING   UP  THE  WORK  257 

as  it  might  reasonably  have  been  expected  that 
they  would.  It  takes  longer  to  get  them  inter- 
ested in  the  work  than  was  first  anticipated,  and 
this  proves  to  be  a  discouragement.  The  people 
know  that  the  mission  needs  more  members,  and 
when  the  accessions  are  not  as  fast  as  they  think 
they  ought  to  be  they  become  discouraged,  think- 
ing that  the  mission  is  not  reaching  the  commu- 
nity as  it  should. 

Ofttimes  the  mission  meets  discouragement  on 
account  of  flagrant  sins  of  some  of  its  prominent 
workers.  It  often  happens  that  one  who  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  church  is  over- 
taken in  a  sin  and  brings  disrepute  upon  the 
church.  An  older  congregation  can  pass  through 
an  expenrience  of  this  kind  with  little  damage 
to  the  reputation  of  the  church,  but  not  so  with 
a  mission  congregation.  The  mission  has  as  yet 
not  established  its  good  name  in  the  community, 
and  an  occurrence  of  this  kind  proves  to  be  almost 
a  calamity. 

The  discouragements  will  come  thick  and  fast, 
but  the  mission  must  meet  them  in  a  heroic  way 
and  overcome  them.  Here  the  discretion  and 
tact  of  the  pastor  will  be  tested  to  the  utmost. 
If  he  is  able  to  keep  the  mission  encouraged  in 
the  face  of  disappointment  he  will  succeed  in 
building  up  a  strong  church. 

Keeping  up  the  Interest. 
Not  only  must  the  mission  meet  discourage- 
ments, but  it  must  keep  up  interest.    To  let  inter- 


258  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

est  die  out  is  to  let  the  mission  die,  A  necessary 
element  in  keeping  up  interest  is  to  get  the  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  acquainted  with  each 
other.  Especially  in  our  city  missions  the  mem- 
bers come  from  all  walks  and  conditions  in  life 
and  seldom  know  each  other  until  they  meet  in 
church.  On  this  account  meetings  of  a  social 
nature  where  the  members  can  come  together  on 
an  equal  standing,  are  very  desirable.  For  the 
members  of  the  mission  to  spend  an  evening  to- 
gether, where  they  can  talk  with  each  other  and 
learn  to  know  each  other,  is  a  good  thing.  The 
bond  of  union  at  such  a  time  is  a  common  interest 
in  a  particular  church,  and  this  bond  will  be  more 
close  after  they  have  met  together  in  a  social  way. 
A  meeting  of  this  kind  often  proves  to  be  the 
stepping  stone  for  outsiders  to  come  into  the 
church.  For  those  who  are  not  members  of  the 
church  to  meet  the  members  in  a  social  way  often 
increases  their  interest  and  leads  them  into  the 
church. 

To  have  some  definite  work  before  the  church 
and  to  keep  everybody  busy  at  it  is  another  way 
of  keeping  up  interest.  As  long  as  people  are 
busy  working  for  the  church  they  will  be  inter- 
ested in  it.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  be  constantly 
adding  to  the  furnishings  of  the  church.  However 
small  the  thing  may  be,  the  people  see  that  there 
is  improvement,  and  this  tends  to  keep  up  interest. 

Of  course  nothing  tends  to  keep  up  interest  as 
well-attended   services   and   large   accessions   of 


BUILDING   UP   THE   WORK  259 

new  members.  Naturally  the  whole  congregation 
should  center  its  efforts  here.  To  have  large  con- 
gregations it  is  imperative  that  every  member 
be  regular  in  attending  the  services.  In  a  large 
church  the  absence  of  a  member  is  not  noticed, 
but  in  a  mission  it  is  conspicuous  at  once.  In  the 
matter  of  accessions  the  members  can  do  much 
to  increase  them.  Every  member  should  be  an 
active  worker  securing  new  accessions,  and  as 
long  as  he  works  he  will  keep  up  interest. 

The  Weeding  out  Process. 

Not  every  person  who  unites  with  a  mission 
will  become  an  active  church  worker.  There 
comes  a  testing  time  when  many  will  fall  away. 
There  was  a  time  when  the  followers  of  our 
Saviour  were  sorely  tested,  and  many  walked  with 
him  no  more,  and  just  so  is  there  a  time  when 
the  followers  of  a  mission  congregation  are  sorely 
tested,  and  from  that  time  on  many  will  walk  with 
it  no  more.  This  is  inevitable.  The  members 
come  from  all  quarters  of  the  world.  They  have 
had  the  most  varied  experience  in  church  life,  and 
it  is  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  such  varied 
elements  will  amalgamate  into  a  harmonious  con- 
gregation all  at  once. 

Again  there  will  always  be  those  who  will  unite 
with  the  mission  with  impure  motives.  They  will 
come  into  it  expecting  to  become  leaders,  and  when 
their  expectations  are  not  realized  they  drop 
away.    Others  will  come  into  the  work  for  social 


260  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

or  business  reasons,  and  when  they  are  disap- 
pointed they  soon  drop  out.  Then  there  will  al- 
ways be  those  who  were  carried  into  the  organi- 
zation on  the  waves  of  first  enthusiasm,  and  after 
this  has  died  down  they  too  lose  interest  and  quit. 
About  three  or  four  years  after  the  mission  has 
been  organized  this  weeding  out  process  takes 
place.  For  the  time  being  it  is  very  discouraging 
to  the  mission,  but  in  the  end  it  is  a  good  thing. 
When  these  persons  have  taken  their  departure 
the  mission  is  smaller  but  stronger.  Those  who 
remain  are  genuine,  and  with  this  nucleus  the 
missionary  pastor  can  do  wonders.  Just  as  a 
healthy  human  body  will  throw  out  the  impurities 
that  have  gotten  into  its  organism,  so  will  a 
healthy  mission  congregation  expurgate  the  im- 
purities that  have  crept  into  its  organization. 
The  weeding  out  process  is  a  necessary  experience. 

Handling  the  Factions. 

Factions  are  apt  to  develop  in  the  best  regulated 
congregation,  and  they  are  doubly  apt  to  arise  in 
a  mission  congregation.  In  the  average  English 
Lutheran  mission  congregation  there  will  be  sev- 
eral nationalities  represented  in  the  membership. 
Now  each  nationality  has  had  a  different  church 
training  in  the  old  country,  or  in  a  foreign-speak- 
ing church  in  this  country,  and  this  difference  in 
nationality  and  church  training  is  apt  to  cause 
friction.  When  the  membership  of  a  mission  con- 
gregation is  composed  of  several  nationalities,  and 


BUILDING  UP  THE  WORK  261 

these  nationalities  are  about  equal  in  number, 
jealousy  and  rivalry  are  apt  to  develop  unless 
the  pastor  is  very  discrete.  A  great  barrier  to 
the  development  of  a  mission  is  this  element.  It 
often  happens  that  instead  of  having  a  harmoni- 
ous congregation  the  mission  has  three  or  four 
different  groups,  each  jealous  of  the  other.  It 
takes  time,  patience,  and  grace  to  bring  these 
elements  together  and  make  a  harmonious  work- 
ing congregation  out  of  them.  Experience  shows 
that  the  mission  congregation  which  has  only  one 
nationality  to  deal  with  makes  much  more  prog- 
ress than  the  one  which  has  several  nationalities 
in  its  membership. 

Developing  the  Sunday-school. 

We  take  it  for  granted  that  the  Sunday-school 
was  started  early  in  the  life  of  the  mission.  Often 
the  school  is  begun  before  the  congregation  is 
organized.  The  first  step  in  developing  the  Sun- 
day-school is  that  of  increasing  its  membership. 
Many  schemes  are  resorted  to.  But  experience 
proves  that  the  best  missionaries  for  the  school 
are  the  children  themselves.  They  can  do  more 
towards  increasing  the  membership  of  the  school 
than  the  pastor,  superintendent,  or  the  teachers. 
The  thing  to  be  done  is  to  enlist  the  cooperation 
of  the  children  already  in  the  school.  We  have 
known  cases  where  one  child  has  brought  as  many 
as  twenty  permanent  scholars  into  the  school  in 
four  weeks. 


262  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

After  an  enrollment  has  been  secured  the  next 
step  is  to  secure  competent  teachers.  Here  the 
missionary  usually  meets  a  real  difficulty.  Those 
who  are  interested  in  the  mission  often  have  had 
little  or  no  experience  in  Sunday-school  work,  and 
many  of  them  absolutely  refuse  to  help.  But 
teachers  must  be  had,  and  if  he  cannot  find  them 
he  must  proceed  to  make  them.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances the  thing  to  be  done  is  to  take  some 
of  the  young  people  who  are  interested  and  or- 
ganize a  teacher's  training  class  and  train  them 
for  the  work.  This  will  take  much  time  and  pa- 
tience, but  it  is  the  best  thing  that  can  be  done. 
Even  if  the  class  is  small  let  him  continue,  for  in 
the  end  he  will  have  a  few  trained  workers,  and  a 
few  trained  workers  will  be  a  mighty  power  in 
his  school. 

The  external  organization  of  the  school  must 
be  looked  after  carefully.  The  more  systematic 
the  school  is  organized,  the  better  it  will  be.  If 
at  all  possible  a  full  corps  of  officers  and  teachers 
should  be  elected,  and  the  school  should  be  care- 
fully graded.  Even  if  the  school  is  small  it  should 
be  conducted  as  systematically  as  if  it  were  a  large 
one.  The  missionary  cannot  devote  too  much  time 
to  the  Sunday-school,  for  out  of  it  he  will  receive 
his  future  church  members. 

Developing  a  Church  Consciousness. 

The  average  mission  congregation  in  its  first 
years  is  too  busy  growing  and  meeting  its  obliga- 


BUILDING  UP  THE  WORK  263 

tions  to  realize  that  it  is  a  church.  Therefore  it 
is  necessary  for  the  missionary  to  develop  a  church 
consciousness  in  the  mission.  He  must  show  the 
little  flock  that  their  congregation  has  all  the 
functions  of  a  church  and  all  the  privileges  and 
obligations  of  a  large  congregation.  He  must 
bring  them  to  a  realization  that  they  are  part  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  and  have  a  duty  to  the 
Church  at  large  and  towards  the  general  benev- 
olent work  of  the  Church.  Most  mission  congre- 
gations have  such  a  hard  struggle  to  maintain 
themselves  that  they  never  feel  that  they  owe  any- 
thing to  the  Church  at  large.  But  that  missionary 
pastor  who  neglects  to  inform  and  impress  upon 
his  mission  its  relation  to  the  Church  at  large,  is 
making  a  sad  mistake.  The  mission  must  become 
conscious  of  the  fact  that  it  is  a  church  and  that 
it  is  a  part  of  the  Church  universal.  Sometimes 
it  takes  a  long  time  to  bring  the  mission  to  this 
consciousness,  but  it  must  be  done,  or  the  work 
will  fail  in  a  most  important  matter. 

Establishing  a  Standing  in  the  Community. 

A  mission  congregation  must  establish  a  stand- 
ing in  the  community  in  which  ic  exists.  In  order 
to  do  this  it  must  stand  squarely  upon  Lutheran 
usage  and  practice.  That  mission  congregation 
makes  a  mistake  that  makes  light  of  Lutheran 
customs.  Looseness  of  church  practices  never 
helps  a  mission.  At  one  time  it  was  thought  that 
our  Church  should  become  more  American,  and 


264  LUTHERAN    HOME   MISSIONS 

it  was  thought  that  the  way  to  do  this  was  to 
discard  such  time-honored  customs  as  catechiza- 
tion  and  confirmation  and  use  instead  the  revival 
system  of  the  Methodists.  This  was  one  of  the 
saddest  mistakes  our  Lutheran  Church  ever  made. 
In  its  zeal  to  reach  a  certain  class  of  people  a 
mission  is  often  tempted  to  make  this  same  mis- 
take, but  such  a  procedure  would  hurt  instead  of 
help.  A  Lutheran  Mission  cannot  establish  a 
standing  in  a  community  by  repudiating  Lutheran 
customs  and  practices. 

Not  only  church  practices,  but  the  lives  and 
example  of  the  members  go  a  long  way  towards 
establishing  a  standing  in  the  community.  The 
mission  is  known  by  the  products  it  turns  out. 
This  being  the  case  the  members  of  the  mission 
are  under  a  double  obligation  to  walk  circum- 
spectly. They  are  to  be  shining  examples  for  the 
mission.  The  mission  will  be  known  and  judged 
by  their  lives.  This  being  true,  the  missionary 
pastor  must  look  well  to  the  spiritual  life  of  his 
flock;  for  not  only  is  the  welfare  of  the  people 
at  stake,  but  the  welfare  of  the  mission  as  well. 

In  order  to  establish  a  standing  the  mission 
must  keep  money  matters  in  the  background  as 
much  as  possible  and  must  lay  stress  upon  the 
saving  of  souls.  For  a  mission  to  get  the  reputa- 
tion that  it  seeks  money  instead  of  souls  is  a  sad 
thing.  If  the  mission  stands  for  anything  it 
stands  for  that  which  is  spiritual,  and  it  must 
never  let  the  spiritual  be  overshadowed  by  that 


ni'ILDING  UP  THE  WORK  265 

which  is  material.  While  the  community  may 
seemingly  pay  little  attention  to  the  mission,  nev- 
ertheless it  soon  knows  whether  it  is  a  spiritual 
power  or  not.  When  the  mission  is  forever  solicit- 
ing the  public  for  funds,  and  its  members  are 
living  a  worldly  life,  its  reputation  for  godliness 
will  soon  suffer.  It  is  of  vital  importance  that  the 
mission  makes  a  good  reputation  in  the  commu- 
nity. By  emphasizing  the  spiritual  and  by  show- 
ing the  good  it  is  doing  for  its  members  it  must 
convince  the  community  of  its  usefulness  and 
worth. 

Creating  a  Wide  Outlook. 

A  mission  congregation  is  apt  to  become  self- 
centered  and  narrow.  The  struggle  for  existence 
is  so  hard  that  it  often  fails  to  look  beyond  its 
own  confines.  But  it  must  have  a  wide  outlook.  A 
mission  congregation  must  have  a  wide  outlook 
in  two  directions:  first,  in  regard  to  its  own  de- 
velopment, and,  secondly,  in  regard  to  the  place 
it  is  to  take  in  the  work  of  the  Church  at  large. 

A  mission  congregation  with  a  small  outlook 
will  remain  a  small  congregation.  The  mission 
must  come  to  therrealization  that  it  has  a  large 
work  in  that  community,  and  that  it  can  by  the 
help  of  God  do  that  work.  Often  our  missions 
get  the  idea  that  self-preservation  is  the  highest 
law  of  life  for  them.  They  struggle  on  under 
many  difficulties  forgetting  that  they  are  set  to  do 
a  work  for  the  community  instead  of  the  commu- 

Lutheian   Home  Missions.  18 


266  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

nity  doing  a  work  for  them.  Contracted  vision 
has  been  the  death  of  more  than  one  promising 
mission  congregation. 

But  when  a  mission  has  a  wide  outlook,  a  spirit 
of  hope  and  enthusiasm  pervades  the  whole  con- 
gregation. When  a  mission  congregation  realizes 
that  it  as  a  church  has  a  work  to  do  in  a  com- 
munit}^  usually  it  will  have  enough  life  and  en- 
thusiasm to  do  it,  but  when  it  becomes  self-cen- 
tered, disintegration  sets  in. 

A  mission  congregation  must  have  a  wide  out- 
look as  to  the  work  it  is  to  do  in  the  Church  at 
large.  At  the  earliest  possible  time  it  should 
be  made  acquainted  with  all  the  benevolent  works 
of  the  Church,  and  should  be  taught  to  give  in 
their  behalf.  To  say  that  a  congregation  has  no 
duty  towards  the  work  of  the  Church  at  large  be- 
cause it  is  a  mission  church  is  a  fatal  mistake. 
It  should  be  told  of  all  the  work  of  the  Church, 
and  from  the  very  beginning  should  be  led  to 
give  to  that  cause.  A  man's  duty  towards  the 
heathen  and  the  poor  is  not  lessened  because  he 
happens  to  belong  to  a  mission  church.  That  mis- 
sionary pastor  who  is  able  to  crea.te  a  wide  outlook 
in  his  mission  will  have  a  workfftg  and  prosperous 
congregation. 

Bringing  the  Mission  to  Self-sustentation. 

The  whole  purpose  of  Home  Mission  work  is  to 
bring  the  mission  congregation  to  that  point  of 
development  where  it  can  henceforth  care  for  its 


BtlLDINQ   UP  THE   WORK  267 

own  interests.  When  it  reaches  that  point,  then 
the  Home  Mission  interests  cease  to  labor  for  it, 
and  it  takes  its  place  among  the  regular  congre- 
gations of  the  Church.  How  long  it  will  take  a 
mission  congregation  to  reach  self-sustentation 
depends  entirely  upon  circumstances.  One  may- 
reach  it  in  a  few  years,  while  it  may  take  many 
years  for  another  to  become  self-supporting.  The 
fruitf ulness  of  the  field,  internal  development,  and 
pastoral  ministrations  are  all  important  factors 
in  the  growth  and  development  of  a  mission,  and 
each  one  conditions  the  progress  of  the  work. 

When  is  a  mission  congregation  self-support- 
ing? is  another  consideration.  In  our  estimation 
a  congregation  is  not  self-supporting  until  its 
membership  is  strong  enough  and  its  offerings 
large  enough  to  take  care  of  all  its  obligations. 
In  the  past  many  of  our  mission  congregations 
have  declared  themselves  self-supporting  long 
before  they  should  have  done  so.  The  result  was 
that  many  of  them  had  to  struggle  along  for  years, 
and  some  of  them  had  to  come  back  to  the  Home 
Mission  Board  for  aid.  A  conservative  middle  is 
the  safest.  A  congregation  should  not  ask  aid 
of  the  Mission  Board  when  it  is  able  to  support 
itself,  neither  should  a  Mission  Board  refuse  aid 
to  a  mission  until  it  is  able  to  take  care  of  its  own 
interests. 

The  number  of  members  a  mission  church 
should  have  before  it  becomes  self-supporting  de- 
pends entirely  upon    conditions.     Sometimes    a 


268  LUTHERAN   HOME  MISSIONS 

comparatively  small  flock  is  altogether  able  to 
take  care  of  itself,  while  at  other  times  a  com- 
paratively large  congregation  is  absolutely  unable 
to  take  care  of  its  interests  without  aid  from  the 
Mission  Board.  We  believe  that  every  mission 
congregation  should  declare  itself  self-supporting 
as  soon  as  practicable,  but  that  does  not  say  that 
now  the  congregation- has  all  the  stability  a  con- 
gregation needs.  It  takes  from  fifteen  to  twenty- 
five  years  for  a  mission  congregation  to  become  a 
genuinely  substantial  congregation.  That  much 
time  must  elapse  before  all  the  various  elements 
entering  into  the  composition  of  a  new  church 
shall  have  been  welded  into  a  harmonious 
whole. 

May  the  Head  of  the  Church  aid  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  its  great  Home  Mission  work  in  this 
land.  May  He  speed  the  day  when  the  many  scat- 
tered sheep  shall  have  been  gathered  into  the  fold, 
and  when  there  shall  be  but  one  fold  and  one 
shepherd. 


INDEX 


A. 

Advertising,  217. 
Agricultural  fair,  113. 
Aim  of  Home  Missions,  13. 
Albert,  Rev.  Chas.  A.,  42. 
America,  9. 
American,  97  ff. 
American  Luth.  Church,  126. 
Anglo-Saxon,   102. 
Apportionment     system,     143, 

153. 
Attitude  of  community,  212. 
Augsburg   Confession,    15,   64, 

68. 
Augustana  Synod,  79,  197. 
Austria,  108. 

B. 

Babcock,  Prof.,  122. 

Backsliders,  208. 

Baltimore,  75,  76. 

Baptists,  78. 

Base  of  supplies,  42. 

Basis  of  Home  Missions,  25  ff. ; 

examples  of  Apostles,  28; 

love  of  Christ,  29,  30; 

New  Test,  26,  27,  28; 

Old  Test,  25  f. 
Baxter,  Dr.,  104. 
Bell,  Rev.  Ezra  K.,  75. 
Belshazzarism,  40. 
Benevolent  work,  51. 


Bliss,  13. 

Board  of  English  Home  Mis- 
sions, 150. 
Boston,   79. 
Boy,   226. 

Broad  vision,  157. 
Brooks,   Rev.   Phillips,   78. 
Buffalo,  76. 
Building,   248. 

Building  up  Church,  33  f.,  173. 
Building  up  work,  253. 
Business  basis,  204,  205. 
Business  people,  254. 

C. 

California,  73,  92. 

Calls,  216. 

Campaigns,   154, 

Canada,   60,   108. 

Canvass,   200. 

Care  of  body,  113. 

Carolinas,  105. 

Catechization,  18. 

Chicago,    61,    81. 

Chicago  Record-Herald,  106. 

Christian  education,  13. 

Christmas,  113. 

Christian  philanthropy,  44. 

Church   and   Home   Missions, 

131  ff. 
Church  activity,  44. 
Church  Book,  220. 
Church  building,  248  ff. 


Lutheran  Home  Missions. 


19 


270 


LUTHERAN    HOME    MISSIONS 


Church  consciousness,  262,  263. 
Church      Extension      Society, 

173  ff. 
Church  home,  173,  1*4. 
Church  lot,  241—248. 
Church  papers,  137. 
Church  practices,  17,  IS. 
City  missions,  81,  95,  157. 
Civil  war,  107,  108,  117. 
Cleveland,  81. 
Cleveland,  President,  55. 
Clerical  robe,  219. 
Conscientiousness,  98. 
Colleges,  51,  65. 
Colonization,   101. 
Colonial  stock,  97. 
Community,  206. 
Communicant  members,  50,  60. 
Common   Service,  166. 
Conditions  of  labor,   234. 
Confirmation,  18. 
Colorado,  73. 
Connecticut,    73. 
Congregational  Church,  76, 178. 
Correspondence,  238,  239. 
Cram,  Mr.  R.  A.,  250—257. 
Crisis  of  missions,  11. 


Dakota,    84,    88. 

Danish  immigration,  117. 

Definition  of  Home  Missions, 

12  f. 
Degenerate,  208. 
Delaware,  58. 
Denmark,   117. 
Depleted  sections,  49. 
Directing  missionaries,  160. 
Discouragements,  256. 
District  superintendent,  150. 
Divisions  of  Church,   35. 
Doctrines,  15  f. 
Doubter,  229. 
Dutch,  The,  56,  97,  116. 


Earnest   piety,   165. 

East,   74  f..   76. 

Kills  Island,  118.     " 

Energy,    99. 

England,  73. 

English,    The,   97,    98. 

English   Home  Missions,   149, 

150. 
English  work,  90. 
Enthusiasm,  159. 
Encyclopaedia  of  Missions,  13. 
Enders,  Rev.  G.  W.,  21. 
Episcopal  Church,  77,  178. 
Era,   new,  10. 
Erie  Canal,  li06. 
Example  of  Apostles,  28. 
"Ex-missionary",  138  f. 
Experience  in  Home  Miss.,  15. 
Experts,  150. 
Exploiters,  122. 


F. 

Factory  laborers,  204. 
Farrar,  Archdeacon,  99. 
Faust,  Albert  B.,  109,  111  f. 
Field  missionaries,  150. 
Field    of   Home   Missions,   49, 
61,  71  ff.; 

East,  74,  75; 

East  north  central  division, 
79—80. 

Mountain  div.,  91—92; 

New  England,  76—77; 

Pacific  slope,  92—93; 

South,  93—95; 

West,  82—87; 

West  north  central  div.,  88 
—91; 

Whole  country,  71  f. 
Financing   mission,    253 — 256. 
Financial  standing,  202,  203. 
Firm  conviction,  169. 


271 


First  service,  219—220. 
First  wave,   106. 
Foreign  Missions,  42,  43,  53. 
Formalism,   40,  41. 
Fort   Stanvix,   54. 
Francis,   Dr.   J.  M.,   177. 
Frontier,  33,  80,  157. 
"Frontier,  The",  186. 


Gardner,  Rev.  C,  249,  251. 
General  superintendent,  156  ff. 
General  survey 

of  the  age,   2; 

of  church  practices,  17; 

of  doctrinal  situation,  15; 

of  Home  Missions,  14; 

of  Inner  Missions,  19,  20; 

of   the    liturgical    situation, 
16; 

of  Lutheran   Church,  11 ; 

of  mission  situation,  11. 
General   Council,    18,   36.    149, 

196. 
General  Synod,  21,  52,  197. 
Georgia,  105. 
Germany,  61. 
Germans,  97,  98,  105  ff.; 

care  of  body,  113; 

characteristics.  111; 

idealism  of,  114; 

individualism  of,  112; 

joy  of  living  of,  112; 

love  of  laoor.  111; 

persistency  of.  111; 

personal  liberty  of,  114; 

sense  of  duty  of,  112; 

simple  life  of,  112. 
German  belt,  110. 
German    immigration,   57,   61, 
80  81„  105  ff.; 

causes  for,  106.  107; 

character  of,  109; 

distribution  of,  110; 

first  wave  of,  106; 

present  status  of,  109; 


second  wave  of,  107; 

third  wave  of,  108. 
German  Lutherans,  80. 
Gladstone,  103. 
Goethe,  67. 

Grasp  of  situation,   149. 
Great   commission,   27,  28. 

H. 

Haas,  Dr.  John  A.  W.,  77. 
Hall,  214. 

Hall,   Prescot   F.,  125. 
Hanna,  Senator  Mark,  125. 
Hecker,  107. 
Henkel,  Rev.  Paul,  181. 
Hiesler,  Rev.  Chas.  W.,  38. 
Higginson,  Rev.  F.,  99 
Higher  Criticism,  23,  66,  72 
Home  Missions    (see  table  of 
contents) ; 

activity,  22; 

aim  of,    13; 

basis  of,  25  ff. ; 

definitions  of,  12  f. ; 

economy  of,  51  f. ; 

example  of  Apostles  of,  28  f. ; 

experience  in,  15,  24; 

experimenting  with,  24; 

field  of,  49,  61,  71  ff.; 

history  of,  32; 

in  cities,  33; 

importance  of,  46ff.,  55,  56; 

lectures  on,  145; 

museum  of,  145; 

New  Testament  on,  26  f.; 

object  of,   14,  31  ff.; 

Old  Testament  on,  25; 

opportunity  of,  11,  71  ff.; 

principles  of,  11,  14,  28; 

results  of,  32; 

science  of,  14,   27; 

tasks  of,  41; 

theory  of,  15. 

warrant  for,  27; 

way  for,  24; 

work  of,   11. 


272 


I.XITHERAN    nOME   MISSIONS 


Home  Mission  Forces,  145  IT., 
163  ff.; 
Board,  145,  156; 
Church    Extension    Society, 

173—179; 
General  superintendent,  156 

—162; 
local     congregation,     131 — 

143; 
missionary  pastor,  163 — 173. 
Home  missionaries,  32,  33,  48, 

74,  183,  184,  185,  186. 
Home  Mission  Board,  145  ff. 
Home  Mission  field,  71  ff. 
Home  Mission  literature,  137, 

153. 
Home  Mission  papers,  146. 
Home  Mission   principles,   28. 
Home  Mission  services,  137. 
Home  Mission  territory,   73  f. 
Honesty,   111. 
Huguenot,  97,  98. 
Hungaria,    108,   127. 


Idaho,  84,  91. 
Ideals,  100. 
Idealism,  114. 
Illinois,   116. 
Immigrant,  32,  80. 
Immigration,    89,   160. 
Importance  of  Home  Missions, 
46  ff.,   53,   55,   56; 

essence    of    missionary    en- 
deavor, 45; 

extend   the  Church,  49,  50; 

increase  means  ,50,  57; 

maintain  strength,  47; 

most  economical,  51,  52,  53; 

to  Luth.  Church,  56,  57,  58, 
59,  60—70; 

when    Church    is    scattered, 
53,   54,   55. 
Indiana,   80. 
Indian  Christians,  43. 


Indifferent,   208,   228. 
Indifferentism,  41. 
Individualism,  113,  161. 
Individual  mission,  152. 
Industrial  era,  80. 
Inner  Missions,  19  f.,  44  f. 
Intellectual  life,  101. 
Interest  in  community,  215. 
Interest  in  mission,  257 — 258. 
Inventive  genius,  102. 
Irrigation,  91. 
Itineraries,  154. 
Itinerate  system,  181  ff. 


Jacobs,  Dr.  H.  E.,  57. 

Janitor,  171. 

Jesus,  26. 

Joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  198. 

Joy  of  living,  112. 

K. 

Kansas,  88. 

Keiter,  Rev.  Chas.,  109,  117. 


Labors  of  Church,  48. 
Ladies  Aid  Society,  254. 
Laity,  63. 

Laird,  Dr.  Samuel,  175. 
Land  speculation,  106. 
Language  question,  89. 
Lectures    on    Home    Missions, 

145. 
Local   congregation,   135  ff.; 

attitude  of,   131  f. ; 

information  of,  137; 

interest  of,  138; 

missionary  society  of,  143; 

obligations  of,   133; 

pastor  of,  136; 

requirements  of,  133; 

Sunday-school  of,  144. 
Love  of  home,  112. 


273 


Love  of  labor,  111. 
Love  for  Church,  156. 
Liberalism,  170. 
Liturgy,  16  f. 
Liturgical  discussions,  17. 
Location  of  lot,  242,  243. 
"Lutheran,  The",  61,  175,  177. 
Lutheran  Church,   56,   57,   59, 

69  f.,  71,  79,   116. 
Lutheran  Church  Review,  109, 

117. 
Lutheran  Confessions,  65. 
Lutheran  consciousness,  18. 
Lutheran  Cyclopaedia,  12. 
Lutheran  immigrants,  88. 
Lutheran  material,  75. 
Lutheran  stock,  60  . 
Lutheran  territory,  74. 

M. 

Material,  217. 
Materialism,  40. 
Maryland,  74. 

McAfee,  Dr.  Joseph,  85,  87. 
Means  of  grace.  132. 
Means  of  the  Church,   50  f. 
Methods  of  approach,  232,  233. 
Methods  of  finance,  152. 
Military  service.  108. 
Michigan,  SO. 
Middle  West,  47. 
Migration,    47. 
Mining  district,  157. 
Minnesota,  88. 
Mission   churches,   43. 
Missouri,   88,   106. 
Missouri   Synod,  198. 
Mission  Congregation,  17,  43, 

50,  51,  52,  155,  159. 
Mission  policy,  151. 
Missionary    pastor,    155,    161, 

163  ff. 
Missionary  society,  142. 
Mississippi  basin,  62,  197. 
Money  making  power,  102. 
Mountain  division,  91. 


Morning  service,  219. 
Museum,  145. 
Mohawk,  105. 
Montana,  73,  83,  91. 
Muhlenberg,  15. 

N. 

Napoleonic  wars,  80. 
Nationalizing  Church,  35. 
National  Slovonic  Society,  128. 
Need  of  Luth.  Church,  211. 
Nelson,  Prof.  O.  M     199  f. 
Nebraska,  88. 
Negro,  94. 
Nevada,  91. 

New  England,  62,  76  ff.,  79,  83. 
New  York,  58,  61,  74,  105. 
New  York  City,  76. 
New  Testament,  26  ff. 
Northwest,  49,  55,  93,  122. 
Norwegians,  116. 
Numerical  strength,  47. 


Oberly,  Rev.  Frank,  184. 
Object  of  Home  Missions: 
build  Church,  33,  34; 
nationalize   Church,   35,   36, 

37,  38; 
promote  Inner  Missions,  44; 
save  country,  38,  39,  40,  41, 

42; 
save  souls,  31,  32; 
strengthen      Foreign      Mis- 
sions, 42,  43,  44. 
Occupation  of  people,  204. 
Office  workers,  204. 
Old  Testament,  25  ff. 
Officer,    Rev.    Morris,    13,    26, 

34,  53. 
Ohio,   80. 
Opportunity    for    Home    Mis 

sions,  59  f.,  63. 
Oregon,   92. 

Organization  of  board,  147. 
Outlook,   265. 


274 


LUTHERAN    HOME    MISSIONS 


Pacific  slope,  h'l. 
Palatines,   56. 
Panama  Canal,  101. 
Parochial  system,  187  ff. 
Partly  prepared,  97. 
Passavant,    Rev.    W.    A.,    .Jr., 

SUff. 
Pastoral  calls,  210. 
Patience,  171. 
Patriotism,  121. 
Pennsylvania,   58.   74,   127. 
Pennsylvania  Germans,  113. 
Pennsylvania  Ministerium,  75. 
Permanency    of    people,    201. 
People    tor     Home     Missions, 
201  ff.; 

Americans,   97,   98 — 105; 

backsliders,  208; 

business  people,  204; 

factory  people,  204 ; 

financial   standing   of,    202; 

leisure  class,  205; 

Germans,  105 — 115; 

indifferent,  208; 

occupation  of,  204,  205; 

permanency   of,   201 ; 

partly  prepared,  97; 

professional   people,   204 ; 

religious  condition  of,  207; 

roomers,  206; 

Scandinavians,    116 — 126; 

Slovaks,   127—130; 

social   life  of,  202; 

types  of,  209. 
Persistency,   114. 
Pfeiffer,   Prof.   E.,   27. 
Piatt,   Mr.  Ward,   186. 
Plan,  139. 

Phelps,  Prof.  Austin,  40  f. 
Piedmont  plateau,  105. 
Pivotal  man,  230. 
Presbyterian  Church,  178. 
Professional  people,  204. 
Property  owners,  203,  204. 
Psychological  types,  233. 


Ramer,   Dr.  A.   L.,  127. 

Railroading,    204. 

Religious  characteristics,  125. 

Religious  conditions,  206. 

Religious  life,  104,  125. 

Religious  press,   146. 

Religious  persecution,  109. 

Reimensnyder,   Dr.  J.   M.,  64. 

Revival  system,  66. 

Robe,   219. 

Rochester,    188. 

Roomers,  206. 

Roosevelt,  President,   57,   185. 

Russia,   108. 

8. 

Sacrifice,  02. 
Sadtler,  Dr.  S.,  136. 
Salzburgers,  56. 
Sandt,  Dr.  G.  W.,  61,  66,  120. 
Scandinavians.      116  ff.,      117, 
118,   122,   125,   126; 

Babcock  on,  122; 

characteristics  of,  119; 

courage  of,   120; 

firmness  of,  120; 

Hall    on,    125; 

individuality   of,    119; 

love  of  soil  of,  124; 

patriotism  of,  121; 

religious  characteristics  of, 
128; 

study  of,  122. 
Scandinavian  Americans,  121. 
Scandinavian        immigration, 

117,    118. 
Schaeffer,  Rev.  A.,  220,  221. 
Schaff,  Dr.,  68. 
Schurz,  Carl,   107. 
Scotch-Irish,  97,  106. 
Securing    members,    222  ff.; 

approach  of,  232; 

boys,   226; 

by  correspondence,  238; 


275 


doubters,   229; 

indifferent,  228; 

men,   225; 

methods  of,  223; 

pivotal  man,  230; 

young  family,  227; 

young  men,  227. 
Securing    place    of    meeting, 

218,  214. 
Self-denial,  168. 
Self-sustentation,   266. 
Seminaiy     missionary     move- 
ment, 61. 
Sense  of  duty,  112. 
Slovaks,  127  ff.; 

lodges  of,  128; 

honesty  of,   128; 

immigration  of,  126; 

ministers  of,  129; 

newspapers  of,  129; 

religious  condition  of,  129; 

Steiner,  Prof.,  on,  128. 
Slovak  immigration,  126. 
Siegel,    107. 
Simple  life,   112. 
Social  life,  202; 
South,    The,    93  f. 
Spaeth,   Dr.  A.,  88. 
Specialists,  172. 
Spencer,  Herbert,  102. 
Starting  mission,   213  ff.; 

advisability  of,  211; 

attitude  towards,  212; 

first  service  of,  219; 

interest   in,   215; 

need  of,  211; 

material    for,    217; 

place  of,   218. 
Store  room,   214. 
Steiner,  Prof.,  129. 
Strategic  points,  158. 
Strong,   Josiah,   73  f.,   83,  102. 
Sunday-school,    14,    60,   144. 
Superintendent    (see    General 

Superintendent). 
Support,  153. 


Swede,  77,  116,  117. 
Swedish  Home  Missions,  196. 
Swedish  Lutherans,  142. 
Synodical  partizanship,  16,  63. 
Synodical  rivalry,   63. 
Synodical  system,   196. 


Temporary  quarters,  240. 

Texas,  74. 

Theological  seminary,  145. 

Theses,   57. 

Time  of  approach,  236. 

Theory  of  Home  Missions,  15. 

Toledo.  81. 

Trabert,  Dr.  G.  H.,  169. 

Turner,   Prof.   F.   .1.,   106,   111. 

Types  of  Lutherans,  209. 

U. 

Unchurched     Americans,     60, 

101. 
Unchurched  Lutherans,  61,  89. 
United  Synod,  94. 


Vacation,   142. 
Virginia,  58,   105. 
Vision,   20,   157. 
Visits  of  pastor,  142. 

W. 

"Wagner,  Rev.  M.  L.,  181. 

Washington,  92. 

Warrant,   27. 

Weeding  out  process,  259. 

Weidner,  Dr.  R.  F.,  12. 

Window  signs,  217. 

W:inning   men,    225,    226.    227, 

231. 
West,  47,  49,  55,  82  ff.,  185. 
White,  Ambassador.  115. 
Wisconsin,  80,  107,  117. 
Women's   societies   254. 
Wyoming,  91. 


276  LUTHERAN    HOME    MISSIONS 

Y.  Z. 

Young  family,  227,  228.  Zeal,  155,  167. 

Young  men,  65,  227.  Zimmerman,  Rev.  L.  M.,  40. 


*^5^'> 


